Mar., 1916 
SOME LAND BIRDS OF TILLAMOOK COUNTY, OREGON 
75 
Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. Sooty Grouse. Fairly common all over the 
Tillamook country, even down to the beach, where they are often heard hooting from 
the spruce trees during the spring and early summer. On May 10, 1913, a nest con- 
taining one egg was fond in dead ferns in a pasture near Tillamook. When visited 
again on May 13, the broken shells of three eggs were found where some predatory ani- 
mal had destroyed the nest. On June 8, 1914, one was heard hooting from a tall spruce 
in an open pasture near Tillamook. 
Bonasa umbellus sabini. Oregon Ruffed Grouse. This grouse is not uncommon in 
second growth timber all over Tillamook County. During May, 1913, several were seen 
along the brushy banks of Wilson River, near Tillamook. On November 27, 1914, one 
was flushed from an old apple tree that stands near the edge of a heavy thicket on the 
shore of Netarts Bay. This bird apparently lived in this same locality for some time, 
because when I again visited the place in February, 1915, I flushed the bird from the 
same tree several times during the evenings. I hunted this thicket over several times, 
but never saw but the one bird. On February 9th when passing this tree I found a large 
area covered with ruffed grouse feathers where something, probably a horned owl or 
raccoon, had killed the grouse. No others were seen in the locality. 
Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. The pigeons arrive in Tillamook County 
about April 12, and become common in a few days. The latest record I have in the fall 
is September 10, 1913, when three were seen flying over the woods near the hotel at 
Netarts. Soon after these birds arrive they are found in large flocks feeding in the oat 
fields where they pick up the uncovered grain. There are a few complaints from the 
farmers, but examination of the fields where the pigeons had been feeding, showed good 
stands of grain. After the oats have all sprouted the pigeons feed on the buds, and later 
the seeds, of the chittam tree. Elderberries and huckleberries form important items of 
their diet during the summer. On May 4, 1913, I shot a female that contained a fully 
developed egg. The average weight of ten birds collected from May 1 to 10 was twelve 
ounces. 
Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Turkey Vulture These vultures are common dur- 
ing the summer months, and often are found feeding on dead sea birds along the coast 
During September, 1913, five or six made their headquarters on the Netarts sandspit, 
where the carcass of a whale had washed up on the ocean beach. 
Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. This little hawk is of regular occurrence all 
over Tillamook County. On February 8, 1915, one was shot in a grove of pine trees on 
the Netarts sandspit. 
Accipiter cooperi. Cooper Hawk. Seen but twice, once May 13, 1913, flying over a 
field near Tillamook, and again on the Netarts sandspit on February 11, 1915. A. C. 
Shelton took one near Cape Mears on August 14, 1914. 
Buteo borealis calurus. Western Red-tail. These large hawks are common the 
year around, and sometimes on clear warm days three or four were seen circling around 
over the fields in search of mice or squirrels. On February 11, 1915, one was disturbed 
while having a meal on a dead White-winged Scoter that had washed up on the beach. 
Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucoeephalus. Bald Eagle. These grand birds are of reg- 
ular occurrence along the coast and bays of Tillamook County. On September 8, 1912, 
two were seen feeding on the carcass of a sea lion on the beach at Netarts. On Aprii 
12, 1914, I had an interesting experience with an adult of this species. I had shot a 
Farallon Cormorant out over the surf, and while it was coming in with the tide I walked 
north along the beach about half a mile. I was out of sight about thirty minutes, when, 
rounding a large rock, I saw an old white-headed eagle standing on the beach tearing 
away at my cormorant. Upon approaching to within about three hundred yards, the 
eagle tried to rise with the cormorant in his talons, but it proved too much for him, and 
after three unsuccessful attempts he flew away, before I could approach within gun- 
fill At ° 
On the mountain back of the Cape Mears lighthouse there is an old nest that is 
said to have been used for several years by a pair of these birds. When visiting it dur- 
mg Ma rch, 1913, no eagles were present, but under the nest, which is placed about a 
hundred feet up m a large Douglas spruce, we found a large assortment of bird bones 
among which could be identified California Murre, small grebes ( Colymbus ) cormor- 
ants, and a few bones of small ducks. 
Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck Hawk Duck Hawks are of regular occurrence 
