Bird Banding Department 
231 
the nest, just going to the hole and calling the young up for food, so 
there was no chance of capturing the old birds to see their numbers, so 
we climbed the ladder, and as we passed the lower hole, noticed four owl 
eggs, of a second sitting, were in the hole, but all broken. 
It was necessary to saw out a piece of the tree to get our hand 
into the hole, and as we opened the hole, out came an owl. We were 
surprised and annoyed, and took out the four young Flickers and 
examined them very carefully, but they were not harmed in any way, so 
they were banded and replaced in the nest. Our curiosity was aroused 
about the owl. The next morning, the 12th, we watched the old 
Flickers feeding the same as ever, but finally decided to see if the 
owl was around. On reaching in the hole there was the owl, and we 
promptly threw her out. On examining the young Flickers, found they 
were unharmed. On the 13th, everything happened just the same as on 
the 12th. On the 14th the same thing was repeated, but on examining 
the young Flickers we found about half of some small bird which 
apparently the owl had attempted to feed the young Flickers, and after 
putting the young back in the nest they were so far advanced that two 
objected to such treatment, and left the nest. 
On the 15th the old Flickers were feeding the same as ever, and 
investigation showed the old Owl still brooding the young Flickers, 
but the remaining two also objected to the irregularities, and left. For 
the next ten days we looked into all the holes, but the owl and the 
Flickers had all left. We have examined the holes occasionally since 
then, but have not found a trace of the Owl. 
In our experience with animals we have known cats and dogs 
taking other young when their own had been taken away from them, 
and have known chickens to ho^er most anything they could find, 
but this was the first experience with wild birds. W. I. Lyon. 
WOODPECKERS SLEEP SOUNDLY 
While banding birds there are many opportunities to study their 
habits. One interesting fact has developed from keeping birds indoors 
at night. In the shorter days of the winter months we are unable to 
be home before dark, but must visit the traps as soon as possible, for 
leaving birds in traps all night invites many disasters from storms, 
cats, rats, weasels, owls, etc. 
On such nights, when the birds have been gathered from the traps 
and taken to the house to read the numbers of repeats, and band the 
new ones, it would be cruel to turn them out into the dark when they 
cannot find a roost, so they are sorted, separating the sizes to prevent 
fights and crowding in the small cages. On such occasions the birds 
are kept in our basement, where it is cool, and when we have occasion 
to go to the basement later, on turning on the lights, the Sparrows and 
Finches are always awake in an instant, but the Downy Woodpeckers 
all seem to sleep so soundly that we have walked past them to the next 
room, shaken the furnace, put the coal in, then pass them again without 
their awakening. It aroused our curiosity and we watched them very 
carefully, and they slept soundly. 
