150 



THE CONDOR 



Vol. XIX 



nest by peculiar squeak uttered by brooding bird. Nest was directly over me 

 in juniper tree, but eight feet above ground, and old bird sat close as I watched 

 her, with beak pointing straight up and partly open; her attitude suggested 

 one of hiding, endeavoring to make herself as little conspicuous as possible. A 

 light snow was falling at the time, and when I flushed her (which was not 

 until I was within a foot of the nest), the flakes settled on the three naked 

 youngsters, recently hatched and apparently about three days old. Both 



adults stayed close by, the 

 while uttering plaintive 

 cries which I have not heard 

 from this species at other 

 seasons. (See fig. 50.) When 

 I slipped away a few paces, 

 hiding, the old bird returned 

 and covered her brood ; this 

 time in natural position. 



"March 25th. Nest no. 2 

 found in same vicinity, at 

 bottom of canyon, placed 

 close to trunk of large fir, 

 seven feet above ground. 

 Adult was brooding, and as- 

 sumed same attitude as bird 

 in nest no. 1 (bill high up, 

 open, etc.). Nest contained 

 three young, apparently a 

 few days older than those in 

 the previous nest, as they 

 were partly covered with 

 down. 



"March 26th. Nest no. 3 

 with set of three eggs. Nest, 

 eggs and parent bird taken 

 and forwarded to you. Old 

 birds acted in no way differ- 

 ent than in former cases. 

 Nest in piny on tree at bot- 

 tom of canyon, eight feet 

 above ground. Male bird 

 taken. 



"March 27th. Nest no. 4 

 found in bottom of can- 

 yon, in top of pinyon 

 tree sixteen feet above ground, well hidden and the only nest found in top of 

 tree to date ; contained two young about same age as previous ones found. 



"None of these nests were in close proximity to each other. The four 

 nests occupied a territory of perhaps several miles in area and the birds are 

 nesting in the Transition zone, junipers and pinyons of the upper Sonoran 

 zone reaching well into the Transition; associated with Pinyon Jays, Bush- 

 tits, etc. 



Fig. 50. Adult Clarke Nutcracker on 



NEARBY PERCH UTTERING PLAINTIVE CRIES 

 WHILE ITS NEST IS BEING EXAMINED. 



