202 
THE WILSON BULLETIN— December, 1922 
of the grackles. The nesting grove consisted of spruce, white 
pine, cedar, apple, and plum trees with a hedge of mulberries ou 
the north. It contained approximately thirty nests, sixteen of 
which were occupied on May 30, the date on which the work was 
started. 
Attention was first attracted particularly to this colony by 
the curious and unusual feeding habits of the birds. Instead of 
foraging closely about the orchard, barn yard, and near-by fields. 
Bronzed Grackle male feeding young 
as is the common habit of the species in this locality, a steady 
flight of birds was noted leaving the colony and an equal number 
were noted returning in another flyAvay loaded with food for 
the nestlings. 
On investigating the reason for this, a very interesting state 
of affairs was discovered. The nesting grove under considera- 
tion was located on a slight knoll facing the northeast about 
three quarters of a mile from the Iowa River. At this time, 
however, the river was out of its banks witli flood water and had 
spread out over the lowlands to within a quarter of a mile of the 
grove. At the point towards which the Grackle flight was di- 
rected was located a blue-grass pasture nearly level but con- 
