348 Bird- Lore 



In speaking of this new reservation, Mr. Lewis has the following to say: 

 "With the completion of the dam by the Reclamation Service, the water of 

 the lake rose, during the spring months, about eight feet, and has since receded 

 over two feet, leaving the surface of the lake about six feet higher than normal. 

 The marsh area at the eastern end of the lake has disappeared, with the excep- 

 tion of a growth of wocus which has managed to reach the surface. The dam 

 will cause the water of the lake to rise close to fifteen feet, yet; so that thous- 

 ands of acres of sage-brush land will be overflowed. On account of this rise, 

 the value of the lake as a breeding-place may be temporarily destroyed; but, 

 as new shore lines are established, vegetation will spring up, and the lake will 

 become of even more importance than heretofore as a breeding-place for 

 water fowl." 



"During the past season, on one island of an acre and a half in 

 extent, the keeper of the head-gate told me there were eight nests of 

 the Honker Goose. There were likely several hundreds of nests of this 

 bird in the vicinity. In the north and east shores of the lake can be seen 

 thousands of Ducks, imong which I noted the Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, 

 Ruddy, Canvasback Red-head, Green- wing, and Cinnamon Teal and Greater 

 Scaup." 



"On Clear Lake there are a large number of Western Grebes nesting. As 

 an illustration of their numbers, I counted forty-two in sight at one time, 

 while standing on the dam. This was in a strip of water about two hundred 

 feet wide by two hundred and fifty yards long. From the center of the lake 

 I counted eighty-seven without the aid of glasses, which is remarkable when 

 it is known that there are less Grebe out in the middle of the lake than along 

 the shores. That many Grebes nested on the lake is shown by the large num- 

 ber of young seen, nearly one-half, and many of these were still carried on the 

 backs of old birds. The Grebes here are much tamer than on the Lower Kla- 

 math, and it is not uncommon to get within fifty feet of the old birds in open 

 water." 



"A few White Heron are still left on this lake. I saw three at one time. I 

 am inclined to believe there are from six to ten left on the lake. The birds I 

 saw were very wild. Large numbers of California Gulls nest on the lake, but 

 it was noteworthy that I saw no Pelicans nor Terns." 



After careful investigation, we have been able to discover but one other 

 colony of White Herons, or American Egrets, in the lake region of southern 

 Oregon and northern California. Besides the small colony at Clear Lake, there 

 is another colony in southern Oregon. This is outside the boundaries of one 

 of our reservations. Three years ago, this colony was reduced until it contained 

 but five birds. During the past summer, there were twenty-one old birds and 

 ten nests in the colony. There were forty young, making sixty-one birds for 

 that locality. The Oregon Audubon Society is attempting to raise a special 

 fund to protect this colony of White Herons, which is Hkely the only one in 



