4 GEO, 5 PROVINCIAL Museum ReEporv. G7 



REPORT ON BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED DURING APRIL, MAY, AND 
JUNE, 1913, IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY, FROM OKANAGAN 
LANDING SOUTH TO OSOYOOS LAKE. 
By E. M. Anperson. 
(Nore.—Species collected on the trip are marked with an asterisk.) 
*HOLBa@LL’s GrEBE (Colymbus holballi, Reinh.). 
Common on all the lakes throughout the valley ; breeds on Dog, Vaseaux, and Osoyoos 
Lakes. Eggs taken on June 11th and 16th. Nests found floating in the tule marshes and 
also on the margin of lakes, composed of dead rushes, grasses, etc., and lined with decayed 
vegetation—in about 3 feet of water. Eggs, four or five whitish buff to pale green, often 
stained to obscure the ground colour ; size, 2.20 x 1.45. 
*Hornep Gree (Colymbus auritus, Linn.). 
Fairly common on lakes. Nests found well hidden amongst tules in about 4 feet of water. 
Three sets of eggs taken June 13th at Vaseaux Lake. Nest composed of rushes, ete., and 
lined with decayed vegetation. From five to eight buffy white eggs, often pale greenish ; size, 
1.50 x 1.25. Birds seldom found near the nests, as the eggs are incubated chiefly by the action 
of dead vegetation placed in the nests. 
Loon, Great Norraern Diver (Gavia immer, Brun.). 
A pair were found on all the larger lakes throughout the valley. On May 23rd, secured 
an interesting set of eggs at Vaseaux Lake ; the nest was situated at the water’s edge, on the 
extreme point of a small island. Eggs two in number, of a dark greenish-brown colour, spotted 
sparingly with black. One egg measured 2.20 x 3.15, the larger 4.40 x 2.50; the latter a most 
remarkable-sized egg. 
HErRING-GULL (Larus argentatus, Pont.). 
One seen at Okanagan Lake on April 9th. 
MerGanser (Jergus americanus, Cassin.). 
One pair seen at Okanagan Lake on April 12th ; probably breeds. 
Matiarp (Anas platyrhynchos, Linn.). 
On April 10th a large flock of about sixty birds was seen near Penticton, along the 
Okanagan River. By the 20th of the month nearly all of the birds paired and bred on the 
numerous lakes throughout the district. 
Rep-Heap, Pocnarp (Varila americana, Eyt.). 
A few pair were seen with a large flock of scaup-ducks at Okanagan Landing on April 
15th. A pair bred on Dog Lake, near the Okanagan Falls. The young were seen on June 
12th close to the margin of the lake. 
Scaup-puck, Biuesity (Varila marila, Linn.). 
Common at Okanagan Falls on April 9th. Did not find it breeding in the valley. 
Lesser Scaup-puck (Jarila affinis, Eyt.) 
Five birds seen in company with scaup-ducks on April 9th at Okanagan Landing. 
BUuFFLE-HEAD, Burrer-BaLu (Charitonetta albeola, Linn.). 
Two males seen at Okanagan Lake on April 9th. 
SANADA Goose (Branta canadensis canadensis, Linn.). 
Found throughout the valley. Three were seen at Penticton on April 12th ; about forty 
at Vaseaux Lake on May 12th. Breeds throughout the valley. On an island in Vaseaux Lake 
two nests were found on the ground. They lay five beautiful eggs; size, 3.45 x 2.40. Nests 
composed of pin-needles, lined with down. Birds have been known to nest at the edge of 
American osprey’s nest, and not uncommonly on top of a pinnacle of a mountain-top. 
