July, 190S ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS OF .^lESA COUNTY, COLORADO 157 



[Gavia immer. Loon. A bird of g:eneral distribution thniout the State. Probabl_v a reg-ii- 

 lar tho uncommon migrant.] 



Larus delawarensis. Ring-billed Gull. ^Migrant. This bird is probably one 

 of the species that occur with more or less regularity during migration, but are 

 never common. Miss Eggleston reports it as a rare migrant and Mr. Sullivan has 

 seen it several times during July and August of 1903 and 1904 at Grand Junction. 

 The writer has never seen it in the higher portions of the County- and can learn of 

 no records of it except along the Grand River. 



[Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Black Tern. Occasionally met with thruout the 

 State in suitable localities, and undoubteilh' occurs in more or less abundance durino- mio-ration. 

 A very few may possibly sunuuer in INIesa County as they do in Routt County.] 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. American White Pelican. Migrant. \MiateA-er 

 has been said regarding the occurrence of the Ring-billed Gull Avill apply equally 

 well to this species. The only record however for the County is of a flock of eight 

 seen by Mr. Sullivan, September 4, 1904 at Grand Junction. 



[Mergus americanus. American INIerganser. A bird of wide distribution, individuals of 

 which undoubtedly find their way into the County from time to time during migration.] 



[Mergus serrator. Red-breasted 2klerganser. Prof. Cooke says, "Undoubtedly occurs, tho 

 not yet reported on the lower waters of western Colorado." Carter found them breeding on the 

 Blue River not more than 75 miles northeast of ]\Iesa Coimty.] 



[I/Ophodytes cucullatus. Hooded :\Ierganser. Whatever has been said regarding the 

 American ]\lerganser will apply eqiially Avell to this species.] 



Anas boschas. Mallard. Common in migration; breeds sparingly. This is 

 probably the commonest duck occurring in the County. Owing to lack of suitable 

 localities it is not a common breeder; but the writer has found young birds regular- 

 ly on the head of Beaver Creek at about 9,000 feet. 



Mr. P. McCaffrey mentions it as a regular breeder along the Grand River and 

 Dr. W. A'. Watson reports that they breed rarely in the Plateau Valley at about 

 6,000 feet, and a few remain all winter in the warm springs below Plateau Citv. 

 In speaking of the migration of Mallard, Cinnamon Teal and Pintail he says: 

 "The flight begins in spring early in March and continues 3 to 5 weeks. The 

 autumnal flight begins in September( about the 20th) and lasts until Xox-eml^er 1st.'" 



Mr. R. H. Sullivan has seen them migrating as early as February- 3. 1Q04, 

 and as late as November 4, 1904, at Grand Junction. He says, "I would say that 

 the main spring migration is in full swing between March 5 and 20, and the fall 

 flight between October 15 and November 1. 



Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. Migrant. Mr. Sullivan says of this bird: 

 "I saw a flock of 11 rise from the Gunnison River, March 28, 1904. The only 

 time I have seen this duck." This would seem to indicate that the Gadwall is not 

 a common migrant. 



Mareca americana. Baldpate. Migrant. Mr. Sullivan reports them as more 

 or less plentiful during the fall migration and he has also seen them occasionally 

 during the spring at Grand Junction. 



Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged Teal. Common in migration. Probably 

 next inabundance to the iSIallard during the fall and spring migrations, but have found 

 no evidence of its breeding", altho Carter found it nesting in Middle Park. Mr. 

 Sullivan has seen them both in spring and fall migration and classes them as 

 "migrant, rather common in small flocks." It is also mentioned as a migrant at 

 Grand Junction by Miss Eggleston. 



Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. Migrant. Miss KgoJeston reports 

 it as "Migrant: found in the marshes with the Green-winged Teal each spring and 

 fall." Mr. Floyd Smalley gives it as occurring regularl\- in migration on the 

 Grand Mesa. 



