THE-C9HD9R 



Volume XIX January-February, 1917 Number 1 



FURTHER NOTES ON THE WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS 

 OF SLOVER MOUNTAIN 



By WILSON C. HANNA 

 WITH FOUR PHOTOS 



THE MAY-JUNE CONDOR for 1909 tells of my early experiences with the 

 White-throated Swift (Aeronautes melanoleucus) on Slover Mountain 

 which is located in the San Bernardino Valley near Colton. Continuous 

 observations since that time have brought forth a few more interesting points, 

 particularly concerning the nests. 



During the breeding season single birds, or birds in pairs, are often no- 

 ticed in flight. The nesting sites are then to be found by watching where these 

 birds go. When a likely crevice is found, observations must be conducted to 

 decide whether the nest is under construction, with eggs, or contains young. 

 With the exception of set no. 1 and set no. 4, all nests that I have observed 

 have been situated in crevices with bends and so far away that nothing could 

 be seen even as to the location of the nests ; and these two sets are the only ones 

 I have taken w T here injury to some of the eggs in the set has not resulted. 



The nesting cracks are best located by watching the birds carry feathers 

 into them, but as the nest-building and egg-laying period may require over a 

 month there is much chance of destroying the unfinished nests or in waiting 

 too long before removal of the rocks. On several occasions I have been greeted 

 by the screeches of half-grown young in crevices where I had expected to start 

 operations for collecting eggs. 



Locating the nesting cavity and estimating the proper time for collecting 

 the eggs is but a mere start in the righl direction, for the cavity is usually at 

 some almost inaccessible point on the cliffs, 20 to 150 feet from the bottom, 

 with many dangerous, loose, overhanging rocks. There is no certainty as to the 



