The Black-billed Magpie 



In order that their double quartet of youngsters may be lined up for 

 the egg harvest, the Magpies take an early start at home building. April is 



the normal nesting 

 month, and there are 

 late March records 

 as far north as the 

 northern border of 

 the U.S. In the high 

 plateau region of 

 northwestern Cali- 

 fornia, however, 

 early May eggs are 

 the rule rather than 

 the exception. The 

 birds resort at nest- 

 ing time to the most 

 out-of-the-way 

 places, where they 

 breed in straggling 

 colony fashion. The 

 near vicinity of 

 water is deemed a 

 prime requisite, so 

 spring '/draws" 

 covered with wil- 

 lows or quaking 

 asps are favorite 

 stations. Nests are, 

 normally, at mod- 

 erate heights, in 

 willows, elders, or 

 Crataegus bushes, 

 but in regions where 

 they have been sub- 

 jected to persecu- 

 tion, the birds will 

 resort to pine trees, 

 if available, or in 

 more desert situa- 

 tion to junipers, 

 mountain mahog- 

 any, sage bushes, or 



Taken in InydJZounty HERSELF Photo by the Author 



THIS MAGPIE IS THE MOTHER OF THE YOUNGSTER SHOWN ON PAGE 34 



36 



