NORTH DAKOTA BIRDS 



1 — 1. Western Grebe. Aechniophorus occidentalis. 



Only one specimen taken in Towner County. A set of eggs found at Rock 

 Lake thought to be of this species. A common breeder in Freshwater Lake, 

 Ramsey County. 



2 — 2. Holboell Grebe. Colymbus holboellii. 



Common migrant prairie region. Breeding in ponds and lakes of the 

 Turtle Mountains. 



3 — 3. Homed Grebe. Colymbus auritus. 



Common migrant. Nesting in Turtle Mountains. No positive instances 

 known of nests found in prairie ponds. First arrivals early in May. 



4 — 4. American Eared Grebe. Colymbus nigricollis califomicus. 



Abundant summer resident. Breeding in colonies in all ponds of prairie 

 region that retain water all summer. This Grebe arrives the last week in 

 April, but does not commence nesting until the first week in June. Their 

 eggs are considered as great delicacies by the half-breeds and Indians, who 

 gather them in large numbers during the early breeding season. One colony 

 contained 40 odd nests in a small patch of grass about one rod wide by four 

 rods long, one to three eggs in each nest. 



5 — 6. Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps. 



Common. Breeding in coulee holes and sloughs that have deep water. 

 They appear to avoid the more shallow sloughs and lakes. Probably more 

 common than is evident to the casual observer, as they seem to be of a shyer 

 nature than the Eared Grebes, having the faculty common to all divers, of 

 sinking quietly under water with just the head or bill exposed when alarmed. 

 Earliest records of the first seen in spring being April 27th. Eggs found 

 hatching first week in June. 



6 — 7. Loon. Urinator imber. 



Common summer resident of Turtle Mountains, breeding in the larger 

 lakes. Sometimes stopping on prairie ponds to rest but no records of their 

 nesting in prairie regions. First migrants noted is April 16th. 



7 — 11. Red Throated Loon. Urinator lumme. 



A questionable record of five being seen on Big Coulee in late fall migra- 

 tion. 



8 — 51a. American Herring Gull. Lams argentatus smithsonianus. 



A straggler during early spring migrations. 



9 — 53. California Gull. Larus californicus. 



Occasionally seen in summer. One shot in June, 1895, while flying over 

 Rock Lake, being first positive record for this region. 



10 — 54. Ring-billed Gull. Larus Delawarenses. 



A common migrant. Also seen feeding in more or less numbers during 

 summer. No instances of its breeding in Towner or Rolette counties. Found 

 nesting in numbers on islands of Devils and Stump Lakes. 



11 — 59. Franklins Gull. Larus franklinii. 



Abundant during migrations in spring and also during July and August 

 when they are seen feeding in large flocks over the grain fields, alighting for 

 rest on the ploughed fields and roads. Their food is principally grasshoppers 



