Reports of Field Agents 405 



A single Wood Ibis was seen flying over Billy's Island. The 'Flinthead' 

 is well known to the swamp inhabitants, who prize it as a game bird. It is 

 said to frequent the numerous small cypress ponds that are contained within 

 the larger islands. 



Small numbers of Ward's Herons are distributed generally throughout 

 the swamp. 



A few Little Blue Herons were seen in the northern part of the swamp. 

 Just as I was departing, I learned of a colony, consisting probably of several 

 hundred birds, that nested annually in Cowhouse Bay. 



A small number of Green Herons were observed in suitable localities. 



I saw ten Sandhill Cranes in the Okefenoke and heard several others. In 

 May most of them were observed in the pine woods on the islands, where they 

 were probably feeding on the vast beds of huckleberries. Unfortunately, this 

 splendid bird also is eagerly sought for eating purposes at all seasons. 



One or two Limpkins were noted on Honey Island Prairie, and half a 

 dozen Spotted Sandpipers at Billy's Lake. 



Another bird deserving particular mention is the Ivory-billed Wood- 

 pecker. I received definite information from those who are unquestionably 

 familiar with this magnificent bird, concerning three different nesting-sites 

 on a certain group of small islands. I made a special effort to reach the place, 

 but the dimness of the trail and the thickness of the swamp proved too much 

 for the guide and myself on the only day that we could devote to the purpose. 

 There is no doubt that the Ivory-bill still exists, though in very small num- 

 bers, in the Okefenoke. The scarcely less gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker 

 abounds in most gratifying numbers. 



Though I found no Egrets within the Okefenoke, I learned of a populous 

 heronry a few miles outside of the swamp, near the Suwannee River, where 

 Egrets had formerly bred and were likely to be still found. I therefore engaged 

 a man to investigate the colony. From his report it appears that on May 20, 

 the colony contained between four hundred and five hundred nests with eggs 

 or young; of these the great majority evidently belonged to Little Blue Herons, 

 but about eleven American Egrets were observed among the adult birds 

 flying overhead, and three or four nests that seemed to belong to the latter 

 species were located. Several Ward's Herons were also observed in the 

 colony. There was no evidence that the birds were being disturbed in 

 any way. 



I am indebted to Dr. A. H. Wright, of the Cornell University party which 

 was investigating biological conditions in the swamp from May 28 to July 15, 

 for still more definite information concerning this heronry. Doctor Wright 

 visited the colony on June 18, when there were still a few eggs and young in the 

 nests, and between eight hundred and one thousand young Little Blue Herons 

 on the wing. He also observed there three or four American Egrets, and several 

 Water Turkeys, Wood Ibises, and Ward's Herons. There was no trace of 



