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Volume XIX September-October, 1917 Number 3 



NOTES OX THE NESTING HABITS OF THE CLARKE NUTCRACKER 



IN COLORADO 



By W. C. BRADBURY 



WITH FOUR PHOTOS 



HAVING failed in previous attempts to secure eggs of the Clarke Nut- 

 cracker (Nucifraga Columbiana)] I determined in the winter of 1915-16 

 to make further special efforts. Among other preparations 1 engaged 

 Mr. H. H. Sheldon, whose experience as a field naturalist on the staff of the 

 Colorado Museum of Natural History had been quite extensive, to make a 

 special trip to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Range, in Saguache County, 

 Colorado, and to take full and accurate daily notes of all observations. The 

 region to be worked, about 280 miles by rail from Denver and 25 miles from 

 the nearest railroad station, was reported to me as a favorite nesting locality 

 for this species. 



Though for many years familiar with the summer and fall habits of 

 this bird, and having read numerous articles on this subject, including the 

 excellent one by Mr. M. P. Skinner in the March-April, 191G, number of 

 The Condor, I was not familiar with its nesting habits, and thought possibly 

 a few more details regarding the same, as observed by Sheldon, might be 

 acceptable to The Condor. Being unable to accompany Mr. Sheldon, 1 confine 

 myself here to quotations from the letters, field notes and data received from 

 him during, and at the end of, his work, as follows : 



"Was considerably delayed in getting started and late in getting in. Made 

 camp in foothills of Mount Blanca, March 22, 1916. Altitude about 8,300 feet. 



"March 23rd. Located the birds (Nutcrackers) on ridges and in canyons 

 about 8,500 feet altitude ; pinyons and junipers constituting growth, except 

 a few scattering pines and firs in the canyons. 



" First nest found on rocky, pinyon-covered hillside. Was attracted to 



