May, 191 1 
NESTING HABITS OF THE WESTERN FLYCATCHER 
89 
At 9:30 the sun was shining on the nest when the female came to feed, and 
we could see long necks, dark fuzzy heads and broad yellow bills. After feeding 
the mother slipped onto the nest, resting lightly above two of the birds, the third 
one showing on our side. Presently the mother raised higher up and partly spread 
her wings. For three minutes she thus shielded the nestlings, when the male 
came to feed and she flew away. The male did not stay this time, but a few 
minutes later when he came to feed, he rested on the edge of the nest and finally 
slipped onto it, where he stayed ten and one-half minutes. In my mind there is 
little doubt but that the male helps brood the eggs, for never have I seen a bird 
that did not share the brooding take the nest as this one did. 
The common call of this pair of birds, one that I heard on the upward trip 
and all about our camp, was a “pe-wit” or “see-rip”. This was given by the 
female quite frequently before and after feeding. The male used it in the same 
way but not so frequently. Only once did I hear any other note and then it was 
only a little varied. 
The food brought seemed to be large winged insects to a great extent. Some- 
times they were so large as to make several feedings. The female often foraged 
quite near the nest in a damp place under the bank. Both birds sat about on 
limbs not far from us and seemed not to mind our presence. 
I made only one other trip to the nest and then I took my camera. The nest 
was so far away and the light so uncertain that not very satisfactory results were 
obtained. However, the camera shows the location of the nest. For the rest one 
must use the imagination. 
MY AVIAN VISITORS: NOTES FROM SOUTH DAKOTA 
By H. TULLSEN 
Tlie bird’s point of view differs scarcely at all from oxir own in the essentials of life: Pro- 
tection from enemies, the preservation of the family, a sheltered home, congenial environment, 
abundant food, and pure water — these natural rights, the birds, like man, are ever seeking. — 
Neltje Bl.a.nch.\n. 
T he conditions of existence to which animals are normally exposed are not so 
tranquil and unexacting that such creatures are rendered unwilling to take 
occasional advantage of opportunities to try other and different environ- 
ments. This we sometimes see illustrated in the fact that birds, in order to obtain 
food in greater abundance, shelter from cold, or security against the attacks of 
their natural foes, at times will temporarily or permanently forsake their wild 
haunts and seek the environs of the habitations of men. Of course it is to be ad- 
mitted that our feathered friends frequently visit our dooryards and gardens for 
mere variety’s sake, or in obedience to the promptings of curiosity, or, .perchance, 
owing to a spirit of daring; but the fact remains that necessity and want, or at 
least a hope of sooner finding the means of appeasing hunger than under ordinary 
circumstances, are oftener the agents that move such callers to come. 
In southwestern South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation, I had 
ample opportunity to observe the behavior of farmyard and dooryard bird-visitors 
of both the main categories named above, viz., seekers of food and shelter, on the 
