July, 1908 ANNOTATED LIST OF THK BIRDS OF ]MESA COUNTY, COLORADO 161 



Dendragapus obscurus. Dusky Grouse. Resident. Common in suitable local- 

 ities. Breeds from 7,000 to 10,000 feet, during June. The young are usually on 

 the wing in August. During September and October these birds are in flocks, but 

 the rest of the year they are found mostly in pairs or singly. They show very 

 little fear and are an easy prey to marksmen. Their favorite haunts are open 

 quaking asp hillsides or the small glades or parks in the heavy spruce timber. 



[Podioecetes phasianellus campestris- Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. This bird was 

 formerly not unconnnon thruoiit northwestern Colorado and is still found in considerable num- 

 bers in certain parts of Routt County, being strictly resident wherever found. It is not improb- 

 able that a few scattered flocks may be found in the Grand jMesa section of Alesa County.] 



Centrocercus urophasianus. Sage Grouse. Resident. Not uncommon. Lack 

 of extensive sage brush country accounts for the apparent scarcity of this bird. I 

 have seen it in March, 10 miles south of DeBeque, in summer in Plateau Valley and 

 in July with young at the foot of Mamni's Peak. It usually breeds in May at from 

 5,000 to 8,000 feet and the only migration if any is a slight vertical one. Miss 

 Eggieston mentions it as a summer resident around Grand Junction. 



[Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. Prof. Cooke states that this bird is quite com- 

 mon and nests near Glenwood Springs. The writer has never seen the bird in this section and 

 it is probably of uncommon occurrence in Mesa County.] 



Zenaidura macroura. Mourning Dove. Summer resident, abundant. One of 

 the commonest summer birds, nesting abundantly up to at least 7,000 feet. At this 

 altitude it arrives the latter part of April, nests in May, June, and July and the bulk 

 leave early in September. Mr. Sullivan has seen it as early as February 26 (1905) 

 and as late as November 2, at Grand Junction. He says "Nesting begins during 

 the latter part of March and continues with little regularity until the late summer. 

 Mr. S. M. Bradbury says a dove was seen on a nest with eggs September 1, 1903. 

 They are very plentiful in large flocks between the middle of August and the mid- 

 dle of September." Mr. E. R. Warren reports it from Grand Junction October 4. 

 Raises at least two broods a season and occasionally three. 



Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. Summer resident, common. I know of no 

 place in the State where the Turkey Vulture or Buzzard as it is commonly known 

 is more abundant than in Mesa County. On Plateau Creek about 4 miles above 

 Collbran there is a "Buzzard Roost" in a grove of large trees, where I have seen 

 as high as 50 of these birds at one time as night approached. The birds undoubt- 

 edly breed but I have never found nest or young. My earliest arrival date is April 

 3, 1902, and the bulk are here by April 15. I have seen the birds as high as 10,000 

 feet but do not think they breed that high. Mr. Sullivan says the birds are never 

 very plentiful in the lower valley. His extreme dates of migrations are March 18 

 and September 27. 



Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. Summer resident, not uncommon. I have 

 every reason to believe that this hawk breeds within the County, as I have seen it 

 from April to November at frequent intervals, but have never found it nesting. Mr. 

 E. R. Warren reports it from Grand Junction about October 1st, and it may occur 

 in the County in winter but I have no records to that effect. 



Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Summer resident, common and 

 breeds. This species is fully as common here as in other portions of the State and 

 altho I have only one record of its nesting in the County, I think it may be consid- 

 ered as a common breeder. The nest in question was found early in June, 1897. 

 It was built in a cedar and contained three fresh eggs. This set is now in the 

 possession of Prof. A. H. Felger. I have never seen this bird in the winter altho 

 it is probably a not uncommon winter resident. Miss Eggieston and Mr. Sullivan 

 both mention it as a common migrant at Grand Junction. 



