Summer Birds of Chautauqua 



15. Ruffed Grouse, or Partridge. Uncommon resident; scarcity due 



to overhunting. Also the ground nesting birds have many natural 

 enemies and a high death rate. A splendid bird, that should be 

 adequately protected. Habitat, deep unfrequented woodlands; in 

 early days there were partridges on the Assembly Grounds. 



7. TURKEY FAMILY 



(Wild Turkey). Formerly abundant in the Chautauqua region; 

 hunted to extinction and now known only in the domesticated 

 form. 



8. PIGEON FAMILY 



(Passenger Pigeon). A beautiful and wholly harmless bird; for- 

 merly abundant in the Chautauqua region; now entirely extinct 

 through human butchery and " constant and unremitting persecu- 

 tion on their breeding grounds." Last records of live birds, 1898. 



16. Mourning Dove. Sometimes erroneously called Wild Pigeon. 



Common summer resident; arrives March 2Oth, departs Nov. I5th. 

 Breeding season, April 2O-June IO. Occurs in old orchards and 

 open woodlands in the vicinity ; rare on Assembly Grounds. Nest 

 a flimsy saucer of twigs ; 2 white eggs. 



9. HAWK FAMILY 



17. Marsh Hawk. Fairly common summer resident; arrives about 



April ist, departs Oct. 2Oth. Breeding season May 5-20. Fre- 

 quently seen in open fields and marshy places in the vicinity, not 

 on Assembly Grounds. A very useful hawk, feeding largely upon 

 mice and other destructive rodents. 



1 8. Cooper's Hawk. Fairly common summer resident; not on Assem- 



bly Grounds, but sometimes flying over lake ; occurs in open coun- 

 try. This hawk is sometimes a chicken thief, but also feeds upon 

 birds, mice, squirrels, frogs, and insects. 



19. Red-tailed Hawk. Fairly common summer resident; habitat simi- 



lar to Cooper's hawk; often seen circling high in the air; some- 

 times kills poultry, but on the whole is very useful, feeding chiefly 

 upon mice. 



20. Red-shouldered Hawk. Common summer resident, arriving 



March ist and leaving Nov. I5th. Breeding season, April i- 

 May 10. A hawk of the woods, rather than the fields. Cry, a 

 screaming " kee-you, kee-you." Nests in woods beyond Golf 

 Links. Rarely attacks poultry ; chief food is mice and insects ; on 

 the whole a beneficial species. 



