-A Geo. 5 Pbovixcial Museum Report. G 7 



REPORT ON BIRDS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED DURING APRIL, MAY, AND 



JUNE, 1913, IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY, FROM OKANAGAN 



LANDING SOUTH TO OSOYOOS LAKE. 



By E. M. Anderson. 



(Note. — Species collected on the trip are marked with an asterisk.) 



*Holbcell's Grebe (Colymbus holboelli, Reinh.). 



Common on all the lakes throughout the valley ; breeds on Dog, Vaseaux, and Osoyoos 

 Lakes. Eggs taken on June 11th and 16th. Nests found floating in the tule marshes and 

 also on the margin of lakes, composed of dead rushes, grasses, etc., and lined with decayed 

 vegetation — in about 3 feet of water. Eggs, four or five whitish buff to pale green, often 

 stained to obscure the ground colour; size, 2.20 x 1.45. 



*Horxed Grebe (Colymbus auritus, Linn.). 



Fairly common on lakes. Nests found well hidden amongst tules in about 4 feet of water. 

 Three sets of eggs taken June 13th at Vaseaux Lake. Nest composed of rushes, etc., and 

 lined with decayed vegetation. From five to eight buffy white eggs, often pale greenish ; size, 

 1.50 x 1.25. Birds seldom found near the nests, as the eggs are incubated chiefly by the action 

 of dead vegetation placed in the nests. 



Loox, Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer, Bran.). 



A pair were found on all the larger lakes throughout the valley. On May 23rd, secured 

 an interesting set of eggs at Vaseaux Lake ; the nest was situated at the water's edge, on the 

 extreme point of a small island. Eggs two in number, of a dark greenish-brown colour, spotted 

 sparingly with black. One egg measured 2.20 x 3.15, the larger 4.40 x 2.50 ; the latter a most 

 remarkable-sized egg. 



Herring-cull (Larus argt ntatus, Pont.). 



One seen at Okanagan Lake on April 9th. 

 Merganser (Mergus americanus, Cassin.). 



One pair seen at Okanagan Lake on April 1 2th ; probably breeds. 

 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, Linn.). 



On April 10th a large flock of about sixty birds was seen near Penticton, along the 

 Okanagan River. By the 20th of the month nearly all of the birds paired and bred on the 

 numerous lakes throughout the district. 



Red-head, Pochard (Marila americana, Eyt.). 



A few pair w r ere seen with a large flock of scaup-ducks at Okanagan Landing on April 

 15th. A pair bred on Dog Lake, near the Okanagan Falls. The young were seen on June 

 12th close to the margin of the lake. 



Scaup-duck, Bluebill (Marila marila, Linn.). 



Common at Okanagan Falls on April 9th. Did not find it breeding in the valley. 

 Lesser Scaup-duck (Marila affinis, Eyt.) 



Five birds seen in company with scaup-ducks on April 9 th at Okanagan Landing. 

 Buffle-head, Butter-ball (Charitonetta albeola, Linn.). 



Two males seen at Okanagan Lake on April 9th. 

 Canada Goose (Branta canadensis canadensis, Linn.). 



Found throughout the valley. Three were seen at Penticton on April 12th ; about forty 

 at Vaseaux Lake on May 12th. Breeds throughout the valley. On an island in Vaseaux Lake 

 two nests were found on the ground. They lay five beautiful eggs; size, 3.45 x 2.40. Nests 

 composed of pin-needles, lined with down. Birds have been known to nest at the edge of 

 American osprey's nest, and not uncommonly on top of a piinnacle of a mountain-top. 



