aS 
Hee A.U DU BON “BU Gl tateies 
‘ ) Robins caused considerable annoyance to 
Va the pewees because of their obstinacy in re- 
maining and returning despite pewee en- 
© > deavors. On July 26, 28, and 29 it was a 
<— young bird with spotted breast that caused 
A GAS) i trouble. It alighted on the pewees’ stance 
ye aie Pree os three feet below the nest; the male 
ay MeL Le —° attacked; the Robin squawked, left, and 
l ae a re a returned. Here it stayed despite five more 
LA oR buffets from the male. Then both parents 
8/3 ——_-——. fell upon it; the Robin Jeftebutercraqices 
Mo hamendt babies tAtca.3 whereupon the male struck it again. Robin, 
in turn, threatened the female. Then all 
three repaired to different parts of the bur oak. Two days later both 
parents drove the intruder from a perch within two feet of the nest. Later 
it drove the male pewee. Again both parents attacked the visitor with 
cracking bills as it approached within two feet of the nest. A half hour 
later the Robin came within a foot of the nest; both parents fought it, 
whereupon it squawked and dropped to the ground. The next day there 
were further angry attacks when it persisted in coming within one to two 
feet of the nest. 
On August 2, 3, and 4 single adult Robins were driven from the vicinity 
of the nest; one of these visitors was hit in the back by the female, where- 
upon it fled with a squawk. On the 5th two encounters with Robins were 
recorded for the female and eight for the male, who gave phrase 4 eight 
times. Once the male set upon a young Robin approaching the nest; the 
Robin threatened and the male left it in peace for six minutes perched 
within a foot of the nest, then drove it off. Another Robin alighted on the 
stance; the male landed on its back; it squawked and remained but two 
minutes later was chased away. On August 7 the male attacked a Robin 
that came into the bur oak to feed its fledged young; the pewee babies at 
this time were some 30 feet distant. 
The pewees attempted to get rid of all these innocuous intruders but at 
times tolerated them briefly. On the appearance of real potential enemies 
they acted far more vigorously. Grackles were chased and attacked with 
cracking bills and strenuous buffets. All that flew past were pursued. No 
grackle ever failed to leave in short order. Here are a few jottings from 
my notebook: 
“Both attack a grackle walking on the ground 40 feet south of the nest; 
male gave phrase 4-11 times.’ “Male swoops down at a young grackle on 
the ground 12 feet from the bur oak; male gives phrase 4-17 times.” 
“Male met a grackle, chased it, bill cracking.” ‘Male sets upon a grackle 
southwest of the oak; great squawks ensue.” “Grackle comes into the oak 
10 feet from the nest; female attacks it furiously; it nearly lost its balance 
and left as fast as it could, while male sang phrase 4-17 times from the 
other side of the oak and continued for a bit after the attacker had returned 
to the stance.” 
Squirrels were treated much as were the grackles. On July 30 the male 
attacked one on the trunk of the bur oak; it went higher and disappeared. 
On August 2 the female swooped three times over a squirrel on the ground 
20 feet from the nest; the male also swooped and the squirrel disappeared. 
On August 3 both chased two squirrels on the poplar, 35 feet to the south- 
west; the male sang phrase 4-22 times. They both chased off a squirrel 
on the home tree. Later the male again attacked a squirrel ascending the 
oak; he gave phrase 4 once. 
