The Birds of El Paso County, Colorado S09 



south of Colorado Springs, May 9, 1898. Both these birds were 

 in Cottonwood groves on edge of plains, but other records from 

 the State are from the mountains from the foothills up to 

 over 8,000 feet. 



Bubo virginianus pallescens. Western Horned Owl. 

 Resident, common. 



Horned Owls are common in El Paso County, more es- 

 pecially of course where there are trees, and range in the 

 nmuntains as high as there is timber. It even iinds its way into 

 the city occasionally, for Lloyd Shaw saw one on North Ne- 

 vada Avenue, Colorado Springs, June 1, 1911. 



Nesting in hollow trees, using old Magpies' nests or build- 

 ing their own, and on ledges or in cavities in rocks or earth 

 banks, the eggs are laid in March and the young hatched early 

 in April. They are rather destructive birds and apt to attack 

 poultry, though they also kill many mice, ground squirrels and 

 gophers. April 10, 1899, one was brought to Aiken killed on 

 the nest, which latter contained newly hatched young, and a 

 rabbit and quail, the latter not torn or eaten. 



Mr. Waldron, living at a ranch west of Pring, had a large 

 number of domestic pigeons, which were preyed upon by the 

 Horned Owls. One bird got into the habit of coming every 

 day and killing a pigeon. Its method of attack was to swoop 

 down on the birds as they rested on the roof of the barn and 

 frighten them into flying. Then singling out some particular 

 bird it would pursue that until it sought safety by returning 

 to the barn, and the owl would so time its pursuit as to seize 

 the pigeon just as it alighted, and carry it off. 



Some years ago trout breeding was carried on at Manitou 

 Park. It was discovered that something was taking fish from 

 one of the ponds, and after some time it was found that 

 Horned Owls were the culprits. Posts were set about the 



