Tragedies of the Nest 



By L. L. SNYDER, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ont. 



IN looking over my observation notes for the months of June and July, I 

 was very much surprised to find so many casualties which had befallen the 

 birds and their nests in the 'Harcroft' Sanctuary, near Toronto, Ont. This 

 reservation is the property of Mr. J. A. Harvey. It embraces about 25 acres 

 and contains both high and dry woodland and low and wet marshes, which 

 make it attractive to a great variety of birds. 



It was here that I had the opportunity of watching bird migration and, 

 later, although rather intermittently, to observe birds nesting. Although many 

 birds had successfully reared their broods on those 25 acres, there were quite a 

 number which met with difhculties or complete failure. No warden protection 

 was given to the Sanctuary, but it was carefully watched over by the two 

 families residing on the grounds. Such helps as shooting stray cats, driving out 

 human miolesters, keeping down the harmful Hawks and Owls, as well as hav- 

 ing a watchful eye on Crows and Crackles, were constantly in practice. 



My list of tragedies starts with the Wilson Thrush or Veery. This master 

 of nature's flute selected a bush-covered bank near the edge of a pond for his 

 deep and well-Concealed nest. In a short time the nest was completed, and one 

 morning I found a dazzling greenish blue egg deposited in it. On the following 

 morning I found a Cowbird's egg in the nest. Although young Thrushes are 

 almost as' large as young Cowbirds, and could probably hold their own in the 

 same nest, I thought it advisable to remove the egg because of the abundance 

 of Cowbirds in the vicinity. The next day I found the nest empty. Where 

 the Veery egg had gone to (and probably a second egg laid that day) , I do not 

 know. On the following day another Veery egg was in the nest. In due time 

 this egg hatched and the little Veery left the nest in the normal way. Although 

 the efforts of the Veery were not all in vain, the brood was not a success. 

 The second nest which I watched was that of the Chipping Sparrow. It 

 was constructed in a young elm tree about 8 feet from the ground. Three days 

 after I had found this little cradle, which rocked and tossed in the wind, I 

 discovered it tilted up and the few speckled eggs broken on the ground. The 

 wind, very likely, was the cause, as, upon removing the nest, I found that it 

 had been placed between two branches in such a way that, when either branch 

 moved, the movement would tend to loosen their grip on the nest. Birds 

 frequently choose unwise sites for their nests and generally suffer for it, as did 

 the Chipping Sparrow. 



The third nest tragedy fell to the lot of our most popular native bird, the 

 American Robin. The pair had built their nest over the dining-room door of 

 Mr. Harvey's house; four eggs were laid and, without anyone noticing it, the 

 eggs disappeared, also the nest was partially destroyed. The pair were not 

 discouraged, but remodeled their home and four more eggs were laid. Four 



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