May, 191*) 
A CHANGE IN FAUNA 
121 
with all the original inhabitants. The hawks, being wandering in their habits, 
are still found here, and are even more abundant than formerly. 
The Brewer Sparrow, originally nesting in dense-leaved sage-brush, is now 
more common than formerly, and builds its nests in fence corners or weed 
patches. Last summer I observed something interesting about this bird. 
When it built in sage-brush, the eggs were dark blue, almost as dark as a Cat- 
bird’s, but were normal in size and markings. The last nest I found was in 
an alfalfa field in a slight depression. The nest was constructed the same as 
previously, but the eggs were normal in color as well as in size and markings. 
T am very much interested to learn if the whole species will make this change, 
or whether it was merely a variation restricted to the individual bird. 
As soon as grain and alfalfa were raised, many new birds became com- 
mon, such as the Grasshopper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, White-rumped Shrike, 
and the Mountain and Merrill Song Sparrows. Field mice, meanwhile, had 
become a pest, and in 1910 there was a great influx of Short-eared Owls. They 
remained throughoiit 1911, but are now only fairly common, since the mice 
have been very much thinned out. 
After two years of irrigation, the loose sandy soil became saturated with 
what was called “sub-water”. Low places became wet raeadoAvs or even 
ponds, the Ioav land filled with growths of AvilloAA's and weeds, and the ponds 
Avith cat-tails. Noav Avas there, indeed, a host of neAV arrivals. Tide Wrens, 
coots, ducks, bitterns, black-birds, rails and killdeer are now very abundant, 
Avhereas formerly there were none. The water birds, or Avater-loving birds, 
are noAV more plentiful than the others. During migrations there are vast 
numbers that visit us for a month or more. These migratory birds have 
alAvays passed over the project, or, if they stopped at all, did so along the 
river only. 
Trees are scarcely large enough for birds to build in yet, but the orchards 
and hedges are frequented by robins, grosbeaks, orioles, and Avarblers. T once 
saAV a Ked-breasted Nuthatch, and Avondered hoAv it could get along in a sage- 
brush region. The BurroAving OavI, badger, and kangaroo rat Avere forced to 
find high ground Avhen the sub-Avater came up. Horned toads and lizards re- 
treated Avhen the land Avas tilled. Rabbits are a pest only to the farmers Avho 
live near large areas of uncleared land. The Piny on Jay inhabits the foothill 
region several miles away, and makes occasional visits. The SparroAv HaAvk 
is becoming common, coming from an old settled area thirty miles aAvay. 
The river belt has changed but little. The Avillows have been the home 
of robins, Avarblers, and sparroAvs ; Avhile SAvalloAvs, kingfishers, and flickers 
nest in the banks. There are many water birds that breed on the brushy is- 
lands in the stream. There are no ncAV Avaterbirds found there, but many 
birds such as the Lark SparroAV, Grasshopper SparroAv, and Kingbird, have 
come from the inland territory. 
The Valley Partridge (introduced from California) and Belted King- 
fisher have spread over the highlands of the project. The same is true of 
many kinds of ducks and the Limieolae. 
At the dam there are other conditions prevailing. Here a large colony of 
Cliff SwalloAA'^s nests under the eaves of the poAver plant, over the roaring 
Avater. In the heaps of rocks excavated from the canals there are several 
pairs of Rock Wrens, of interest because this is the only place hereabouts 
Avhere they are found. Of course this is local, as the changes in the Avhole pro- 
