July, 1912 NOTES ON WADING BIRDS OF BARR LAKE REGION, COLORADO 
121 
(lence until early Aug'ust. In the large number of nests examined were found 
wide variation in construction and location. Most of the nests were built well 
out toward the edge of the cattails over water three or four feet deep, others were 
built in close to shore in very dense cattail thickets. One nest was found built on 
dry ground, another fully two feet above the ground on a platform of dead 
cattails, with a neat run-way leading up to it ; and still another nest fully four 
feet above ground in the lower branches of an ap])le tree, the water of the lake 
having receded that much after having inundated the orchard. Two nests were 
seen far out on open water that were readily visible at a distance of one hundred 
yards. One nest was found that looked exactly like a grebe's nest ; another was 
built entirely of weed-straws : 
and one over deep water was 
made entirely from green 
moss brought uj) from the 
bottom of the lake. 
Complete sets ranged in 
number from six to thirteen 
and one set at present in the 
writer’s collection contains 
seventeen eggs. Minute ex- 
amination of this set has 
failed to reveal two types of 
egg's as would likely be the 
case if this set was the 
product of two birds. When 
found the eggs in this set 
were arranged in two layers 
in the nest, and even then it 
must have been practically 
impossible for the brooding 
female to cover the entire 
clutch. In several instances 
we i^roved that an egg was 
deposited each day. Incuba- 
tion is apparently not begun 
until the set is complete, as 
all the eggs in a nest usually 
hatched on the same da 3 n 
The parent birds when 
disturbed during incubation 
have a veiy peculiar fashion of swimming out a few yards from the nest, 
uttering a low moaning or croaking note of protest. Then with head low 
over the water, feathers puffed out and wings held away from the body, 
the bird will suddenly rise just off the water, and by kicking rajjidly back- 
ward with both feet, will send a shower of spray in the general direction of 
the intruder. This performance will often be repeated time after time and 
is a very grotesque and expressive method of exhil)iting' the bird’s displeas- 
ure. 
still another entirely of freshly cut grccii cat-tails 
P'ig. 48. NRST OR COOT BUILT ON PLATFORM OF 
DEAD RUSHES TWO FEET ABOVE GROUND 
WITH RUNWAY LEADING UP TO EGGS 
The parents are f|uite devoted to their ne,sts but will seldom allow one to 
approach closer than a dozen yards before seeking safety out on the water, but 
seldom if ever do they take flight upon leaving the nest and then only in cases 
where they are greatly surprised. 
