Henderson — On Northeastern Colorado Birds. lOT 



disappeared from the foothill region, were sometimes seen 

 here. Around the shores of small lakes and irrigating reser- 

 voirs stalked Great Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, 

 Avocets, Bitterns and Wilson Phalaropes, and among the cat- 

 tails and other swamp vegetation Coots, etc., were found nest- 

 ing. Killdeer were everywhere in evidence arid Spotted Sand- 

 pipers were common, a nest of the latter being found at Love- 

 land. 



Beyond the abrupt line of irrigated fields, above reach of 

 irrigating ditches, a decided change takes place as we break 

 suddenly upon the open range. Here treeless plains, with 

 tone, color and a fascination all their own, stretch away for 

 miles. Green fields give way to brown, half-dried buffalo 

 grass, cactus and other plants indicative of arid or semi-arid 

 conditions. No perennial streams water or drain these plains. 

 Between storms the stream beds are nearly as dry as the adja- 

 cent divides, except for occasional waterholes which retain a 

 little water. A few trees along the channels mark their posi- 

 tions and courses to the plainsman. No words or pictures can 

 convey to the reader a just idea of these plains. They must: be 

 seen to be comprehended. 



The robins, warblers, watcrbirds. shorebirds, flickers, wood- 

 peckers, lazuli buntings, blackbirds, jays, magpies, wrens, 

 finches, catbirds, orioles, towhees and English sparrows have 

 disappeared, but the mesa birds of the irrigated section are 

 still with us — the A'esper Sparrows, Lark Sparrows, Desert- 

 Horned Larks, Lark Buntings and Meadowlarks. In entering 

 upon the open range we at once encounter a bird unseen before, 

 the Mountain Plover, which, despite its popular name, is a 

 bird of the high plains rather than the mountains, though found 

 in mountain parks up to an altitude of 9,000 feet. They were 

 nearly all accompanied by young birds, and now for an un- 

 blushing confession. Behold the edifying spectacle of a solemn 

 scientific expedition stopped for an hour on the plain, while 

 four robust, sun-burned, grave and wise-looking fossil diggers 

 fondled and played with a baby plover, photographed it and re- 

 stored it to an anxious mother, who' had watched the proceed- 

 ings with dark forebodings at a distance of a rod or two. Color 



