ISO 



THE CONDOR 



Vol.. IX 



grow up with wire grass in April and May. Where nests are found here they are 

 usually low^er down, sometimes within ten or twelve inches of the ground. 



I was fortunate on May 5, 1903, to find two nests of the Bi-colored Blackbird 

 in oak trees, both southwest of Santa Rosa. The first one was in a large oak on 

 the bank of a small creek in a grain field. Tho the usual wire grass and a few 

 tules were growing along the edge of the water, this pair of birds built their nest 

 on one of the lower limbs of the oak, seven feet above the ground out at the ver}^ 

 end of the limb on a small crotch and fastened to the small growth and leaf stems. 

 The nest was built of the usual material and lined the same. There were four 

 eggs, the female was flushed from the nest, and the male bird was in another part 

 of the tree. 



About three miles more to the southwest and at the southern extremity of the 

 same lagoon I mentioned before, I found another nest of Bi-color in an oak tree. 

 This was a more interesting nest even than the other. It was situated in the very 

 top of the tree; in fact the nest was fastened in the uppermost fork of the main part 



of the tree, 2/^ feet from the very 

 top point of the tree and 20 feet 

 from the ground. It was a mass 

 of tree moss and well concealed. 

 The nest was of the usual material, 

 eggs four in number and typical 

 of Bi-color. The flushing of the 

 female was what located the nest. 

 The tree was at the very edge of 

 the water, and was leaning over 

 the water so that when I was in 

 the top of the tree I could have 

 dropped into the water three 

 feet from the bank. After taking 

 the eggs, I cut the top of the tree 

 off about twelve inches below the 

 nest. I still have this nest and 

 set, and also have had it photo- 

 graphed. [Reproduced herewith.] 

 Davie speaks of Mr. I. E. Hess 

 of Philo, 111., finding the nest of 

 Redwing in a wild cherry tree and 

 of unusual material; also a half mile from open water. The two nests I speak of 

 were both built of the usual material, and both very close to where the Bi-colors 

 most always nest. In fact the water and the nesting sites were there in both in- 

 stances, but the birds selected the oak in preference. Why? I have come to the 

 conclusion that it was to elude that enemy of most nesting birds, the California 

 Jay, as in both instances the grass and tules at the water's edge were quite spar- 

 ingly grown up and very open. I have also noticed that in the thick tules the 

 nests were mostly placed in those growing at the edge of the little avenues of water 

 running thru them. On same date as finding the two sets in the oak trees I also 

 found one set of four eggs the nest of which was fastened to the tall grain stalks in 

 a large grain field % of a mile from the place where I found the first nest of Bi- 

 color in the oak, which was the nearest water and 200 yards from the road. I 

 located the nest by seeing the female settle down, and on going to investigate 

 found the nest and eggs. 



NEST OF BI-COLORED BLACKBIRD IN TOP OF OAK 

 HUNG WITH LICHENS 



