tenet ATUeleU BR ON  Biu lebeee Tol N 3 
windy Audubon’s warblers may be seen on the ground in open grassy places 
near trees to which they may fly in case of danger. 
On March 5, windy on the heights but calm at lower levels, I found 
dozens and dozens of birds in vacant grassy lots, flying from the ground to 
trees when cars passed, then back again. I seated myself on the cement 
wall of an irrigation ditch and began to investigate. I was unable to get 
the exact count of each species because the birds changed position so often, 
but there were over 20 western bluebirds, over 25 Audubon’s warblers, two 
chipping sparrows, four lark sparrows, a dozen linnets or house finches, 
and here and there scattered over the ground were western meadowlarks, 
C a ‘ CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES PHOTO 
edar Waxwings 
singing and singing. All these birds were working for the farmer and the 
orchardist, for they were devouring quantities of insects and weed seeds. 
February 16, a windy day, seemed to be hawk and woodpecker day. 
High in the sky I discovered a red-tailed hawk; flying low near the road 
was a Cooper’s hawk; on a tree overhead a sharp-shinned hawk; on the 
telephone wire sat a sparrow hawk. The sparrow hawk is misnamed. Since 
its chief food is grasshoppers, it should have been called ‘grasshopper 
hawk.” Another day in the same locality I saw five turkey vultures. As 
you know, air-planes are grounded if the wind is very strong. Turkey 
vultures are grounded if there is no wind. They positively must have air 
currents to help them aloft. In this locality, very large black birds soaring 
high overhead are almost sure to be turkey vultures. When viewed at close 
range, the bare red skin of the head may be seen. They are true scavengers, 
clearing the earth of dead creatures. 
Hawks and owls are useful in aiding to maintain a balance in nature 
and should be protected. Their food is largely rodents, such as ground 
squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, rats, etc. At one time I was interested in 
