BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



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along Lake Keuka, as well as those in the valley north of Branchport, 

 the Louisiana water thrush finds an ideal summer haunt, as wild and weird 

 as its ringing, melodious song that is uttered in a most ecstatic manner. 

 They arrive in this locality as early as April lo, usually close to April 15, 

 and I have noted a single individual as late as October 2, but by September 

 25 they are usually gone. 

 In a small hemlock-clad 

 ravine but one pair will 

 be found, while in the 

 greater gullies that ex- 

 tend from the valley back 

 into the hills two miles 

 or more as many as three 

 or four pairs will make 

 their summer home. 

 They also occur in Potter 

 swamp, Yates county, in 

 limited pairs where they 

 hide their nest the same 

 as the Northern water 

 thrush at the base of 

 trees, stumps and logs. 

 In the gullies, however, 

 they select all sorts of 

 cavities, always within 

 12 feet above the rocky 

 bottom over swift flowing 

 water or some deep pool. Of over 75 nests examined, probably nine- 

 tenths were within 4 feet of the bottom of the gully. A favorite nest 

 site is under a dirt, shale or mossy ledge, behind dangling rootlets. 

 Sometimes an excavation is made in the mossy bed on nearly perpen- 

 dicular banks, in cavities at the base of small trees, in barren slate 



■» Photo by Clarence F. Stone 



Louisiana waterthrush's nest and eggs 



