Page:Condor10(4).djvu/39

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July, 1908 ANNOTATED LIST OF TIIE BIRDS OF MESA COUNTY. COLORADO 169 position. They are probably winter as well as summer residents tho information of a definite nature to verify this is lacking. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. Pinyon Jay. Resident, abundant. Frequents the barren cedar country from 5000 to 8000 feet in immense flocks during late sum- mer, fall and winter and divides into small flocks to breed, late in March and in April. I have found young just able to fly as early as April 22. They are oc- casionally seen during summer and fall in the cultivated valleys but the great bulk of the birds are found among the dry cedar covered hills far removed from habita- tions, and are very seldom seen in well watered localities. Miss Eggleston says it is abundant around Grand Junction during the fall. [Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. This species probably occurs rarely xvithin the County boundaries. Carter took it in Middle Park and South Park and Mr. E. R. Warren saw several in Routt County during fi?e summer of 1907.] NESTING SITE OF AMERICAN RAVEN (just above cross) ON SANDSTONE LEDGE; MESA COUNTY, 6800 FEET ALTITUDE Molothrus ater. Cowbird. Summer resident, cormnon. Thruout the culti- vated portions of the County the Cowbird is common, but in the barren or sparsely settled parts it is rarely met with. Frequents pastures and feed-lots used by cattle and is at all times very tame and lifeless. Nests of the Yellow Warbler, Green- tailed and Spurred Towbees and Red-winged Blackbird are the favorite repositories for the eggs, which are deposited during June. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. Summer resident, not uncommon. Miss Eggleston says, "These birds are seen in small numbers with the flocks of other Blackbirds and Cowbirds. They are numerous in the cat- tail swamps and scarcely notice passers by." Mr. Sullivan mentions a colony of 15 or 20 birds nesting in a slough near Grand Junction. In the higher portions of the County they are rarely seen and I have not found them nesting in Plateau Valley.