1913 J Baynakd, Breeding Birds of Much mi Co., Florida. 241 



( > 1 1 1 of about one hundred and forty birds that breed in the State, 

 I have found, during the past nine years, ninety-eight breeding 

 in Alachua County, and on my place about two miles east of 

 Micanopy sixty-six. These I have marked with a * in the list. 



Bird Island, Orange Lake Reservation of the National Associa- 

 tion of Audubon Societies is situated in this county as well as one 

 other protected reservation, and one other large rookery will in all 

 probability be guarded next year. There are probably more 

 Egrets in the county than in all the rest of the State and with the 

 vigorous protection that they are now receiving here it is hoped that 

 they may be the means of repopulating the State with this showy 

 and valuable bird, ^^"ater birds are now as plentiful on our flooded 

 prairies and ponds as in the old da}'s that we all thought had passed. 

 In the following list I have added at the end of each paragraph the 

 dates when I have found eggs in the nest. 



*1. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. — Resident through- 

 out the year. Not very abundant, however, in the breeding season. Nests 

 about June 1. 



*2. Anhinga anhinga. Anhinga, Water Turkey. — Resident in 

 great numbers. Begins to lay as early as March 10. Usually rears but 

 one brood, but a persistent layer if disturbed, laying as many as five sets. 



3. Phalacrocorax auritus floridanus. Florida Cormorant. — ■ 

 A regular visitor but an irregular breeder. Have only known of its breed- 

 ing here on two occasions; once in large Cypress Swamp and once on 

 Bird Island in Orange Lake. Nests April 10. 



*4. Anas fuvigula fuvigula. Florida Duck. — Unknown in this 

 county to all the old duck hunters until 1906 when it appeared on Paines 

 Praiiie and other similar places and began to nest. Resident now and 

 appears to be increasing in numbers. Builds on islands or tussocks in the 

 lakes and also out on the edges in the tall marsh grass and dry sedge. A 

 specimen we have in confinement, caught when young, has mated for two 

 years with a wild Mallard diake and has laid many eggs, none of which 

 however have hatched. Fresh eggs about April 15. 



*o. Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. — Resident throughout the year. 

 Breeds during April and May. This beautiful Summer Duck is becoming 

 yearly scarcer here owing to the summer shooting when the young are 

 unable to fly well. I believe they sometimes rear two broods 



6. Guara alba. White Ibis, Curlew. — A regular summer visitor 

 until 1909 when they came in the early spring and began to nest on Bird 

 Island in Orange Lake, where they have increased steadily. Arriving 

 about April 1, they immediately begin nest building. Usually lay three 

 eggs, rarely four. The young are considered good eating and many fall to 

 the guns of the so called hunters. 



