Reports of Field Agents 



361 



around the edge of the island. On Saw Grass, 50 more pairs were nesting,, 

 and on the ''tussocks" between Bird Island and Red Bird Island, a hundred 

 odd further pairs were observed, all nesting. The Louisianas had young 

 birds in various stages of growth. 



Water-Turkey. — 160 pairs were breeding on Bird Island, and about 200 

 pairs on Saw Grass Island. The nests were completed and laying had 

 begun. 



Other species nesting on or close to the island were: Little Green Heron,, 

 60 pairs on Bird Island and 30 pairs on Saw Grass Island; Black Crowned 



FEMALE WATER-TURKEY, ORANGE LAKE, FLORIDA, ROOKERY 

 Photographed by P. B. Philipp 



Night Heron, 25 pairs; Yellow Crowned Night Heron, 25 pairs; Least Bittern,. 

 6 or 8 pairs nesting in the marsh about the island; Wood Duck, i pair; Purple 

 Gallinule, abundant; Florida Gallinule, common; Florida Red- winged Black- 

 bird, abundant; Boat-tailed Grackle, abundant; King Rail, 2 pairs; Prairie 

 Warbler, 5 pairs. 



Altogether, on the three islands, we estimated a bird population of approx- 

 imately 10,000 pairs. This estimate is an exceedingly conservative one, the 

 actual number of birds probably being much in excess of the figures given. 



The colony is, therefore, one of the largest in the state, and numbers 

 among its inhabitants some of the birds whose names are rapidly becoming 



