^°1908^^1 Court, Treganza Blue Heron. 295 



Egg Island, May 16, 1907.— I find about fifty per cent, more nests on 

 the island this year than last, or, in other words, about seventy-five pairs 

 of breeding birds have nested there. There are only about five sets of 

 fresh eggs. All the other nests either contained young or eggs well ad- 

 vanced in incubation. 



The young are extremely interesting, especially those that are sufficiently 

 fledged to walk about upon the rocks but are yet too timid to attempt 

 flight. The photograph taken gives a very good idea of how close one can 

 approach these almost fully fledged birds. The photograph was taken 

 at a distance of about 6 feet. 



Egg Island, Sept. 14, 1907. — Not a Heron left, but a coimt of the nests 

 shows about fifty per cent, increase over last year. 



General Remarks. — On first observation the nests of the Great Blue 

 Heron appear very flimsy, especially the edges, which seem to be veiy much 

 frayed out and loose. One would think that the storms of a winter woiild 

 entirely demolish these nests, but on close observation it is found that they 

 are most compactly made, and it is quite e\ident that the same nests are 

 used from year to year with but very little rebuilding in the spring. One 

 can very easily tell where new sticks have been added, from the fact that 

 they are not sun-bleached, as are the old sticks in the nest. 



From seeing the size of the new nests that have been built this year and 

 comparing them with the older nests, one would be very safe in saying that 

 these large old nests are the pioneer homes of these birds and mark their 

 first advent to Great Salt Lake, the date of which we shall omit. 



The writer had some little experience with Ardea herodias in Cahfomia. 

 There are some two or three colonies between San Diego and Los Angeles, 

 and in all cases, nests are built in tops of the highest trees. The Eucalyptus 

 seems to be quite a favorite nesting site for this bird. It is not for lack 

 of trees that the bird chooses low elevations for nesting here in Utah, for 

 on Antelope Island, which is not five miles from either Egg Island or White 

 Rock, may be found groves of cedars that are 30 to 50 feet high. 



The following is only hearsay, that Utah Lake contains a small colony 

 of these birds. One trip was made to that lake but no nests were found. 

 However, many of the birds were seen feeding and in all probability there 

 is a colony breeding on this lake. 



Captain Da\is, of Salt Lake, tells me that these birds nest veiy abun- 

 dantly on Gunnison Island, more so than on any other island in Great Salt 

 Lake. They are nesting in company with Larus californicus and Pele- 

 canus erythrorhynchos. Captain Da\is has been to this island many times, 

 and it is imdoubtedly safe to assume that he is correct in his statement, as 

 he is a very close observer of nature generally. 



It is also stated, but I could not vouch for the authority, that there is a 

 colony of these birds nesting in the mouth of Bear River. While we have 

 made two attempts to find the colony, we have as yet been unable to do so. 

 If a colony of these birds does exist at the mouth of Bear River, they are of 

 necessity compelled to nest in the broken down reeds and rushes, as does 

 the Black-crowned Night Heron. 



