60 



THE OOLOGIST 



NOTES ON THE NESTING OF THE 

 AVOCET 



Malheur Lake Bird Reservation, 

 Oregon 



Recurvirostra americana No. 225. 



This bird breeds in large colonies 

 on and around "Alheur Lake" bird res- 

 ervation, but much of its breeding 

 grounds are outside the reservation 

 proper. 



The marsh lands arcund the lake are 

 from one to two miles wide, and con- 

 sist of gullies mostly, outside of this 

 border, however, are large tracts or 

 fields of growing wild grass. 



The surface of these fields is cov- 

 ered during the spring season with 

 water at most times, to grow tiie grass, 

 and along in July and August the water 

 is allowed to recede from the meadows 

 and the wild grass cut for cattle. 

 , In these meadows are raised por- 

 ^tions or hummocks, ever which the 

 water does not flow, and on such 

 places we find the Avocet has his sum- 

 mer home. 



They are found nesting principally 

 on these open grass fields. Its nest is 

 generally a slight depression in the 

 ground lined with fine grass and 

 I weeds. 



However, there are exceptions, and 

 one beautiful nest was built up some 

 six inches above the ground and con- 

 tained four eggs. On one small hum- 

 mock probably 50 feet long by 25 feet 

 wide I counted 25 nests of the Avocet 

 and two nests of the Cinnamon Teal. 



The birds are a noisy set while in- 

 cubating and resort to all forms of de- 

 ception, to lead the intruder away from 

 their nests. 



Several times 1 saw a bird fall over 

 and lie flat on its back with the feet 

 in the air to attract my attention. 



Simulating wounded or crippled birds 

 were very common, and if not success- 

 ful in this manner, would begin to 



show fright by flying at you in all di- 

 rections. 



One actually took my hat off while 

 I was taking a photo of its home. 



The Avocet is a beautiful bird with 

 its rich colored plumage, its constant 

 and noisy flight. The eggs are four in 

 number and only one nest was seen 

 with three in which incubation was ad- 

 vanced. 



The nesting season is late in May 

 and early in June. Fresh eggs may be 

 secured from May 25th to June 10th, 

 according to advancement of the sea- 

 srn. 



Although much larger in size, the 

 eggs resemble those of the Kildeer. 



WILLIAM F. NICHOLSON 



The sad news reaches us that Wil- 

 liam Franklin Nicholson, aged 61 

 years, 1 month and 22 days, passed 

 away at his home near Toulon, in this 

 State, April 7th, 1922, ending a useful 

 life. 



Mr. Nicholson was for years a person- 

 al friend of the editor, and at one time 

 Superintendent of the Public Schools 

 in Lacon. He was one of the most 

 genial, companionable men that we 

 have ever met. A careful observer, 

 having good descriptive powers and an 

 entertaining conversationalist, a lover 

 of nature, science, and a true Christian 

 gentleman. He was a strong support- 

 er of The Oologist and in his deatli we 

 have lost a good friend. 



R. M. Barnes. 



ANOTHER COLLECTOR REPORTS 



"My collection, like Bro. Mathes, Is 

 the accumulation of years and con- 

 tains 3,000 sets with and without nest, 

 1,200 mounted birds, mammals, fish 

 and reptiles, also containing Passenger 

 Pigeon, Carolina Paraquet, Eskimo 

 Curlew, two-headed California pig and 



