Sept,. 190S SUMMER BIRDS OF THE TULARE LAKE REGION ' 201 



and western shores of Tulare Lake from east of the mouth of Kings River to 

 the mouth of Kern River, along Buena Vista Slough and at Buena Vista Lake. 

 Special attention was given to breeding water birds, but the land species were not 

 entirely neglected. 



Successive years of drought had been followed b}^ two very wet seasons, ^nd at 

 the time of my visit Tulare Lake was higher than for many years. The lake waters 

 in spreading had moistened or partialh^ submerged thousands of acres of land on 

 which a rank new growth of tules and coarse grasses was springing up, affording 

 ' unusually favorable breeding grounds for birds. Yet few species were nesting in 

 abundance. In the vicinity of Summit Lake local conditions seemed suitable, but 

 water birds were surprisingly scarce. This lake was a place of unexpected natural 

 beauty, its floating peat islands and gracefully overhanging banks of bright green 

 foliage contrasting strongly with the summer aridity of the neighboring San Joaquin 

 plains. 



The specimens obtained are in the Biological Survey Collection, and have been 

 identified ^y Mr. H. C. Oberholser. 



The nesting of the Green- winged Teal {Nettioii carolinense^ in California has 

 been already noticed. ^ 

 / Among other birds in the following list whose known breeding ranges were 



materially extended are Toxostoma lecontei, and Amphispiza nevadcnsis canes- 

 cens. 



iEchmophorus occidentalis. Western Grebe. Several were seen in Tulare 

 Lake, near the mouth of Kings River, June 18-23. 



Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. Common along the shores of Tulare 

 Lake; noted in Summit Lake, Buena Vista Lake, and in numerous sloughs. A 

 number of nests were found floating in water about two feet deep, among thin tules 

 nearthe mouth of Kings River, June 18-24; some contained hatching eggs and others 

 had been already abandoned. 



Sterna forsteri. Forster Tern. Common in flocks near the mouth of Kings 

 River, at the north end of Tulare Lake, June 18-24. Two specimens procured 

 were not breeding. 



Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Black Tern. A few solitary birds were 

 seen at various points along the north and west shores of Tulare Lake, June 18 to 

 July 7. A female specimen obtained June 23 was in breeding condition. 



Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus. Farallone Cormorant. A large rookery 

 was found in the mouth of Kings River, at the north end of Tulare Lake, June 19. 

 Hundreds of nests in willows, standing in the water, contained young birds most 

 of which were one- half to two-thirds grown. One adult specimen, June 23rd. 



Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. White Pelican. Large, loose flocks were seen 

 daily while along the north and west shores of Tulare Lake, June 18-24 and July 

 6-8. A man who was gathering drifting lumber reported finding a nest contain- 

 ing eggs, on a small island near the west shore, about June 25. 



Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. Breeds in small numbers. At the time of my 

 visit the birds were apparently thru nesting. Large-sized young were swim- 

 ming or flying about. Specimens were obtained at Summit Lake, June 26, and 

 on the west side of Tulare Lake, July 7. 



Nettion carolinense. Green-winged Teal. A few were breeding along the 

 west shore of Tulare Lake, July 7. A brooding bird was shot as she rose from a 

 nest containing seven fresh eggs. Several other females were seen with recently 



a See Condor, Vol. X, No. 3, May-June, 190S, p. 129. 



