CENSUS OF NESTING BIRDS 35 



SECTION NUMBER 6 



In section number 6 (See map), we again are in regions 

 exposed to crowds of humanity. It is mostly open ground 

 with scattered red haws and open groves of other trees, but 

 there are three regions that are wooded; one a narrow thicket- 

 ravine, extends along the driveway leading to the Zoological 

 Gardens, and another, a rocky bluff, borders the railroad, the 

 third is a ravine that extends northeast of the Zoo. All of 

 these wooded thickets are comparatively small and are ex- 

 posed on all sides to scores of loiterers and picnic parties. The 

 conditions are ideal for those birds that love the proximity of 

 man, provided they have shelter and hiding places for their 

 nests. Therefore, the Thrashers, Jays, Towhees, Catbirds and 

 Robins are the most common birds, with the Thrasher far in 

 the lead. 



These little brushy vales are great haunts of the migrating 

 Sparrows during early spring. It is well worth one's while to 

 visit the ravine west of the Zoo in March or April and see the 

 Purple Finches feeding on the buckbrush berries, or stop and 

 listen to the gurgled trills and high-piped notes of the Harris 

 Sparrows. The Wliite-throat Sparrows may also be found 

 adding their ventriloquistic powers for your entertainment. 



So much of the area in this section number 6 is taken up 

 by the Zoological Garden enclosures which are naturally un- 

 favorable for a wild bird population, that a list of one hundred 

 five nesting pairs of birds for the whole section means a dense 

 bird population for those parts that are adapted to bird life. 



Bronze Grackles are at times found in considerable num- 



