510 THE SWAINSON HAWK 
gophers, and the much-detested Columbian Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus 
} 
columbianus Insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and the like, 
form an even greater proportion of its food, and the Hawk is to be regarded 
as highly beneficial. No more eloquent testimony could be adduced for its 
it 
harmlessness than the almost habitual nesting of smaller birds in the same 
tree with a Swainson Hawk 
The nest is seldom placed very high up, usually at a height of fifteen or 
twenty feet in a small tree. as a 
willow or alder The nesting 
platform is rather small for the 
size of the bird, measuring as 1t 
does, less than two feet in diame 
ter by a foot or such a matter in 
depth. It is composed entirely of 
sticks, but is lined afresh each 
year with dried grass, bark strips, 
or small leafy twigs. One seen in 
Benton County contained a quan 
tity of the flowering twigs of a 
willow (Salix amygdaloides) and 
had quite a pleasing appearance 
The Hawks spend a good deal 
of time in the vicinity of thei 
nests even before deposition of 
eggs has begun; and if a first set 
is taken the female is very likely 
entrust a second to the same 
nest Two or three, rarely four, 
eyes are laid, each at intervals of 
vo days, ind they require 
wenty-eight days of incubation 
Lees are rare] deposited before 
e middle of May. so that the 
re ire rte i-V g be 
rore ela veek in Jul \lways 
val i ep ere j ] perses ited, the wv . Hawk will oft ill a 
i Inspec t 1x ] wl ‘ \ 9 bire 1 iric ire ] iV 
me pnrese el r fl ey it e cl I e roads ‘ 
wa l Ha th Spr > era tf an iT ( 
Ha ( mie ‘ ) great ¢ ) es i ln 7 ) 
] i] SLC " ible r ¢ tiie i vitnessed a I 
f l il i \ cast Ve | e creek be rresente ~ g g 
