THE NORTHWESTERN FLICKER. 



45i 



in a large building, whose unused chimneys were covered with sheet-iron. A 

 Flicker had learned the acoustic value of these elevated drums, and the sound 

 of this bird's reveille at 4: 00 a. m. was a regular feature of life at "Council 

 Hall." 



The most characteristic of the bird's vocal efforts is a piercing call delivered 

 from an elevated situation, clape or kly-ak, and cheer or kee-yer. The scythe- 

 whetting song is used for greeting, coaxing or argumentation, and runs from 

 a low zcee-co, wee-co — thru wake-up, wake-up, ivake-\tp — to an emphatic 

 wy-kle, wy-kle, wy-kle, or, in another mood sounds like flicker, flicker, flicker. 



In the ear- 

 ly days of ! 

 April court- 

 ship is in 

 progress, and 

 the 1 o v e- 

 making o f 

 the Flicker is 

 both the most 

 curious and 

 the most con- 

 spicuous of 

 anything in 

 that order. 

 An infatuat- 

 ed Flicker is 

 a very soft 

 and foolish- 

 looking bird, 

 but it must 

 be admitted 

 that he thor- 

 oly under- 

 stands the 



feminine heart and succeeds in love beyond 

 suitors will lay siege to the affections of a 

 sycamore tree. Altho the rivalry is fierce, 

 allowed to display his charms. This he does 

 along a horizontal limb, bowing, scraping 

 head from side to side with a rythmical 

 swain pretends to lose his balance, being 

 luster of milady's eyes, but in reality he 

 excuse to throw up his wings and display 



Taken in Rainier National Park. Photo by W. Leot 



A NESTING SITE OF THE NORTHWEST FUCKER. 



THE LARGEST STUB CONTAINED SIX EGGS ON THE POINT OF HATCHING JULY 7, 

 WHEN THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN. 



Dawson. 



1908, 



the luck of most. A bevy of 



fair lady, say in the top of a 



one gallant at a time will be 



by advancing toward the female 



, pirouetting, and swaying his 



motion. Now and then the 



quite blinded, you see, by the 



does it that he may have an 



the dazzling flame which lines 



