24 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
path of migration follows the coast, and Forrester accordingly serves as a way 
station. It is certainly true that there are few natural enemies on the island 
and an abundant food supply which factors render the reservation well-nigh 
ideal. Furthermore, the immediate region, especially to the east of Dali 
Island, is the feeding ground of a large number of migrant water birds, so that 
accurate observation during a few seasons would doubtless add materially to 
our knowledge of many matters connected with the time of migration, the 
route pursued and nature of food supply. The following species of land birds 
were positively identified during our visit. Where any doubt existed speci- 
mens were secured and later determined at the California Museum of Verte- 
brate Zoology. 
1. Haliaeetus leucocephalus alascanus. Northern Bald Eagle. This 
northern representative of the national bird numbers at least one hundred and 
fifty individuals on Forrester Island. Almost every headland has its aerie, and 
several nests were also found on the islets to the north and south, while the 
young, from one to four years old, inhabit the same or intermediate regions. 
Generally speaking their reputations, like those of their congeners to the south- 
ward, are distinctly had. In pleasant weather when the sea is fairly calm they 
may be seen to soar out from some elevated perch, and the return trip is usual- 
ly made with a herring in their talons ; but when the summer season opens the 
bill of fare very frequently includes birds, both young and old. Remains of 
Cassin Auklets, Ancient Murrelets and Rhinoceros Auklets are frequently en- 
countered on the hillsides, especially in the vicinity of eagle’s nests, and this 
fact together with the reports of the natives fixes the blame on the king of 
birds. Young gulls and murres are also readily and frequently captured; and 
on the larger islands to the north and east numbers of fawns are struck down, 
so that between the eagles and the wolves the deer are fast disappearing. In 
the neighborhood of the salmon canneries they act, as scavengers, and astonish- 
ingly large numbers congregate in such situations. In the neighborhood of 
Waterfall, near the north end of Dali Island, fifty -seven eagles were seen along 
the coast within a distance of less than one third of a mile, and it is reported 
that they are far more abundant in several other localities. 
Almost all of the nests were placed in inaccessible positions, invariably 
in large spruce trees, but from elevated headlands it was possible to see that 
they contained eggs from the middle to the last of May. Newly hatched young 
were found on the 11th of June, and one scarcely able to fly appeared near the 
camp on the 8th of July. During this time the parents are active and extreme- 
ly bold in the capture of prey, and the cries of pursuing gulls could be heard 
about the cliffs at distressingly frequent intervals. Their work of destruc- 
tion in the fall is generally transferred to the larger islands or to the main- 
land, and it is claimed that when the food supply fails along the beaches, or 
birds and small mammals are too wary, a pair will hunt out a small deer in 
the open meadows, and after tearing out its eyes will buffet it with their wings 
until dazed and wearied it finally succumbs. 
The eagles gather daily about the lakes on Forrester Island, and two par- 
tially submerged spruce logs are worn smooth where they have stood during 
the bathing process. During rare intervals when the rain has ceased to a suf- 
ficient extent to allow some of the smaller pools to drain, the bottom ooze is 
tracked in various directions and is occasionally fashioned into distinct wal- 
lows. These phenomena are familiar to the indians, who claim that these birds 
