Mar., 1911 
SUMMER BIRDS OF WILLOW CREEK VALLEY, OREGON 
65 
The avian life of the dry, sage-brush-covered hills appeared to be in general 
rather plentiful, 'though the almost perfect iiiiiforniity of conditions would naturally 
bring the number of species inhabiting this section within narrow limits. The birds 
of the sage-brush were found to be for the most part very shy, — a result, doubtless, 
of the continual watchfulness against enemies demanded by the unprotectiiig nature 
of their environment. 
Aside from the planting of trees on the ranches alread}^ mentioned, human 
agency has to some extent modified the distribution of summer birds in the region 
under consideration by the construction of reservoirs and irrigation ditches. There 
are three of these reservoirs, numbered respectively “l”, “2”, and “3”. No. 1 is 
about two miles from Brogan and some distance to the westward of Willow’ Creek; 
No. 3 is in Willow Creek Canyon about eighteen miles above Brogan. Probably 
several species included in the present list would not have been met with but for 
the presence of these reservoirs. 
1 . ''' Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. Four Mallards were seen fixing over the val- 
ley on July 13. On July 21 a considerable flock was met with in Reservoir No. 1, 
and the following day several xvere startled from an irrigating ditch. It is not at 
all likely that any of these birds had nested in the neighborhood. They were prob- 
abl\’ wanderers from Lake Malheur or some of the other lakes to the southwest- 
w’ard. 
2. Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. A female accompanied by eight 
very young birds xvas seen in an irrigating ditch June 28. The parent bird had a 
broken wing. Near the same place, on July 20, a female and two nearly grow’n 
young were observed, and on the following day a considerable flock was seen in 
Reservoir No. 1. The flock were probably of new arrivals from some other locality. 
3. Ardea h. herodias. Great Blue Heron. On July 13 a Great Blue Heron was 
flushed from an irrigation ditch. 
4. Kycticorax n. naevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. Three specimens were 
seeii flying over the valley on June 24, and on June 29 one w’as startled from a 
thicket along Willoxv Creek. It is likely that a few’ pair nested in the bit of willow 
timber near Brogan. 
5. Fiilica americaaa. Coot. Twm Coots w’ere noted in Reservoir No. 1, on 
July 21. 
6. Lobipes lobatus. Northern Phalarope. A small flock was noted about Reser- 
voir No. 1, on July 21, and others the following day. One specimen was secured. 
7. Steganopus tricolor. Wilson Phalarope. A small flock was seen at Reser- 
voir No. 1, July 21. 
8. Gallinago delicata. Wilson Snipe. On July 8 a Wilson Snipe was 
flushed from the sage brush! A second specimen w’as seen in a bog near Reservoir 
No. 3, on July 10. 
9. Actitis macularius. Spotted Sandpiper. A pair of Spotted Sandpipers, 
evidently nesting, xx’ere seen at Reservoir No. 1, on July 1. They w^ere observed 
repeatedly alighting in the tops of the sage brush. 
10. Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer. Very abundant along irrigating ditches 
and about Reservoir No. 1. A female with four half-grown young was noted in 
Pole Creek Canyon July 16. 
11. Colinus v. virginianus. Bobxvhite. Bobwhites w’ere heard frequently about 
Brogan, but apparently they are not common, 
12. Centrocercus urophasianus. Sage Hen. Large numbers of Sage Grouse 
were observed from time to time and sex’eral specimens were secured. About the 
