IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
211 
American Sparrow Hawk. This, the smallest and prettiest of our hawks, is 
also one of the most useful, living on rodents and large insects, with an occas- 
ional song bird or sparrow. 
In the country districts throughout Polk county, this little fellow can he 
frequently met with along the roads and near groves or wooded strips. 
Rarely a resident, this hawk comes to us usually in March and goes again 
late in November. Its nest is huilt in a hollow tree or old woodpecker’s hole, 
and in fact, sometimes in dove-cots. 
American Osprey: Fish Hawk. One of our most interesting birds of prey, 
the fish hawk is much less common than formerly in Polk county, though in 
other parts of Iowa it is still a familiar sight along our rivers. 
Living almost entirely on fish, which it catches in its large, strong talons, 
this daring fellow will dive quite deep at times to secure its prey. After such 
a dive it will frequently emerge from the water, shake a shower of spray from 
its wings and rise slowly, carrying a five or six pound bass to a convenient tree 
or high bank where it is consumed. 
Although a resident here, the osprey is seen most frequently in the spring 
and early fall (its season with us is from April to November). 
This eagle-like bird builds its bulky nest in a high tree near or over water, 
and frequently in almost inaccessible places. 
Turkey Vulture: Turkey Buzzard. Only twice have I seen these great sca- 
venger birds in Polk county, and, since the time has come when carrion is no 
longer left lying about on our prairies or in the timberland of our well settled 
county, they will never become again, as they once were, familiar residents in 
this part of the state. Thirty years ago the turkey vulture was as common a 
resident of Polk county as is the crow today. The vulture’s favorite means 
of defense was to vomit on the besieging enemy. 
ORDER, coltjmbae: pigeons. 
Passenger Pigeons. Forty years ago the wild pigeon was probably the most 
abundant of our game-birds and migrated in immense fiocks that blackened 
the sky as they flew over. Today they are so rare that every ^ppearance is care- 
fully noted. Once only in the past fourteen years of observation have I seen 
the passenger pigeon in Polk county, Iowa, where once they were killed by the 
hundreds and left lying as food for the pigs, while others were hauled by the 
wagon load into our city and shipped to larger places. 
The woodcock has already gone the way of the wild pigeon, and the quail, 
prairie chicken, grouse and snipe are in grave danger of the same fate. Let 
us do all possible to create sentiment and enact laws that will protect them 
before it is to late. 
Mourning Dove. These shy but sociable birds are very common in Polk 
county. Naturally a bird of the quiet woods, they are also found nesting in 
the residence portions of our city and in nearly every farm yard. 
The* nest is a loose bunch of sticks thrown together to form a transparent 
platform on a horizontal branch of almost any .kind of a tree, though a pine 
or evergreen is preferred. 
The season here is from March to late November. 
