176 



THE RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF IOWA 



long. It seems to be the custom of these birds to select a favorite tree 

 to which all food is carried, there to be devoured. 



The Osprey is not often found nesting in Iowa. George H. Berry 

 collected a single addled egg from a nest in which were three young, 

 May 16, 1892. This nest- was located thirty feet from the ground in 

 a cottonwood tree which stood on the low land near Cedar river about 

 five miles above Cedar Rapids, at a place known locally as Kelsey's 

 Bend. 



This single egg has a ground color of buff heavily blotched every- 

 where with warm chocolate brown, the confluent markings conceal- 

 ing the ground color at the larger end of the egg. It measures 2.. 5 5 

 by 1.72 inches, and is a handsome specimen. 



Many observers have noted the mild disposition of the Osprey 

 toward other birds, which it allows to nest not only in the same tree 

 but even in the irregular cavities among the sticks which compose its 

 own nest. Crackles seem to be especially favored in this respect. 

 Since it is the habit of the Osprey to return year after year to the 

 same site, in time its nest through the accumulation of years becomes 

 very bulky. 



Fig. 12. Map showing the distribution in Iowa of the Osprey. 



