17 



beth Islands, and the waters about them, deserve much more 

 attention from bird lovers in winter than they have received 

 as yet. Rare sea fowl may be seen along the coast in winter 

 after easterly storms. , 



Haw^ks and Owls. 



Great horned owls may be found where hares or rabbits are 

 abundant, or about crow roosts. Crows will often tell you where 

 a great owl is hiding. At such times the owl may be seen, if 

 the observer can approach very skilfully under cover, moving 

 only while the assembled crows caw, and stopping as they cease. 

 Horned owls, snowy owls and barred owls are most often seen 

 in winter. These birds may be observed at times in sparsely 

 wooded country, in open fields, or, rarely, in villages. The 

 snowy owl is most commonly seen along the coast or in open 

 fields or pastures. 



Birds of prey return j'ear after year to the same spot to nest 

 Having once found a nesting place of eagles, hawks or owls 

 you may look for them with confidence year after year on the 

 same cliff or tree, or in the same patch of woodland. The 

 horned owl nests in February, or early March, usually in an old 

 hawk's nest, or in a hollow tree near a swamp; often the nest is 

 not hard to find. The barred owl nests in March and April. 

 Red-shouldered hawks and red-tails nest in April, and most 

 hawks build their nests before the leaves are fully out. Groves 

 of tall white pines are favorite nesting places for hawks. 

 Hawks rarely if ever use dead leaves in nest building, although 

 some use a few green leaves, so the numerous nests seen filled 

 with dead leaves may be attributed to squirrels. Sometimes, 

 however, a hawk or an owl will build upon the foundation of an 

 old squirrel's nest or a crow's nest. Some observing farmers 

 can point out to inquirers a locality where hawks nest. Often 

 the nest is not far from the edge of the woods, and an ob- 

 server watching from a distant hillside may see the bird fly 

 directly to it. Usually with a good glass one can distinguish a 

 newly occupied nest by its fresh appearance and bits of fluffy, 

 light-colored down clinging somewhere about its edges. Some 

 hawks and owls sit very closely, and can hardly be driven from 

 the nest by pounding on the tree. Others leave at the first 



