Page:Condor15(6).djvu/11

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Nov., 1913 SOME FURTHER NOTES ON SlERRAN FIELD-WORK 199 foot of bare willows. Mr. Carriger on June Io, close to the cabin, found a ground- nest of the former type with five almost fresh eggs. Other nests noted were: Two of the White-headed Woodpecker in dead tree trunks 8 and Io feet up, both with small young. (The call of this bird is remark- ably similar to that of the Cabanis Woodpecker.) One nest of the Audubon Warbler with two fresh eggs; a Mountain Bluebird's with five, incubation ad- vanced; and one of the Blue-fronted Jay with two large young. Besides these, numerous nests of the Western Robin and Sierra Junco were noted, containing eggs and young in various stages, and one of the Western Wood Pewee uncom- pleted. Near Seven Pines, on June I I, a loud, mingled chorus of bird cries drew us into a thick forest of pines and firs. Here we came upon a Western Red-tailed Hawk hovering just above a nest full of young Western Robins. The parent birds Fig. 53. PHILLIPS' STATION, 7000 FEET ALTITUDE, SIERRA NEVADA, IN ELDORADO (2OUNT, (2ALIl?ORN IA were darting viciously at the hawk's head endeavoring to thwart its murderous purpose, while assembled forest birds of various species contributed their moral and vocal support. At our approach the hawk took wing. Desolation Valley was crossed and Lake-of-the-Woods reached on June ? t. A glance at the accompanying check-l/st will show the effect sparse timber and bare granite wastes have on birdlife. We noted but 20 species and nearly all of these were recorded at or near Lake-of-the-Woods, which lies at the valley's edge. On June ?2, while crossing a swampy forest tract at an elevation of 7oo0 feet, near Phillips' Station, I spied a pair of Ruby-crowned Kinglets engaged in nest building. Carriger soon joined me and we watched the birds for some time. We were interested to learn that in constructing their new nest at the top of a