334 



BIRD-LIFE IN WESTERN CANADA 



tendance upon a brood of four young, approached the nest 

 quietly and with the utmost caution, but, having delivered 

 her supply of food, she always uttered a series of the most 

 surprising squawks as she left the nest for more. 



To one accustomed to find Night Herons nesting in 

 trees, often at a height of eighty feet, it was surprising to 



Young Black-crowned Night Herons and Nest 



observe these birds nesting on a platform of reed stalks 

 only two or three inches above the water. The structure 

 looked more like the home of a Coot than of a Night Heron 

 and aptly illustrated the influence of environment both in 

 determining the character of the nesting-site and that of the 

 nest itself. 



Several attempts were made to study the bird-life of the 

 * ' reefs ' ' in the lake, but these islands were so small and so 



