Mar.,1916 SOMB LAND BIRDS OF TILLAMOOK COUNTY, ORBGON ?$ Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. Sooty Grouse. Fairly common all over the Tillamook country, even down to the beach, where they are often heard hooting from the spruce trees during the spring and early summer. On May 10, 1913, a nest con- taining one egg was fond in dead ferns in a pasture near Tillamook. When visited again on May 13, the broken shells of three eggs were found where some predatory ani- mal had destroyed the nest. On June 8, 1914, one was heard hooting from a tall spruce in an open pasture near Tillamook. Bonasa umbellus sabinl. Oregon Ruffed Grouse. This grouse is not uncommon in second growth timber all over Tillamook County. During May, 1913, several were seen along the brushy banks of Wilson River, near Tillamook. On November 27, 1914, one was flushed from an old apple tree that stands near the edge of a heavy thicket on the shore of Netarts Bay. This bird apparently lived in this same locality for some time, because when I again visited the place in February, 1915, I flushed the bird from the same tree several times during the evenings. I. hunted this thicket over several times, but never saw but the one bird. On February 9th when passing tl/is tree I found a large area covered with ruffed grouse feathers where something, probably a horned owl or raccoon, had killed the grouse. No others were seen in the locality. Colurnba fasclata. Band-tailed Pigeon. The pigeons arrive in Tillamook County about April 12, and become common in a few days. The latest record I have in the fall is September 10, 1913, when three were seen flying over the woods near the hotel at Netarts. Soon after these birds arrive they are found in large flocks feeding in the oat fields where they pick up the uncovered grain. There are a few complaints from the farmers, but examination of the fields where the pigeons had been feeding, showed good stands of grain. After the oats have all sprouted the pigeons feed/)n the buds, and later the seeds, of the chittam tree. Elderberries and huckleberries form important items of their diet during the summer. On May 4, 1913, I shot a female that contained a fully developed egg. The average weight of ten birds collected from May I to 10 was twelve ounces. : Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Turkey Vulture These vultures are common dur- ing the summer months, and often are found feeding on dead sea birds along th? coast. During September, 1913, five or six made their headquarters on the Netarts sandspit, where the carcass of a whale had Washed up on the ocean beach. Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. This little hawk'is of regular occurrence all over Tillamook County. On February 8, 1915, one was shot in a grove of pine trees on the Netarts sandspit. Accipiter cooperi. Cooper Hawk. Seen but twice, once May 13, 1913, flying over a field near Tillamook, and again on the Netarts sandspit on February 11, 1915. A.C. Shelton took one near Cape Mears on August 14, 1914. Buteo borealis calurus. Western Red-tail. These large hawks are ?comm?6n'?the year around, and sometimes on clear warm days three or four were. seen circling a/;ound over the fields in search of mic. e or squirrels. On Pebruary.11, '1915, one was disturbed while having a meal on a dead White-winged Scoter that had washed up on the beach. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. These g?a?d birds are of reg- ular occurrence along the coast and bays of Tillamook County. On September 8, 1912, two were seen feeding on the carcass of a sea lion on the beach at Netarts. On April 12, 1914, I. had an interesting experience with an adult of this species. I had shot a Farallon Cormorant out over the surf, and while it was coming in with the tide I walked north along the beach about half a mile. I was out of sight about thirty minutes, when, rounding a large rock, I saw an old white-headed eagle standing on the beach tearing away at my cormorant. Upon approaching to within about three hundred yards, the eagle tiied to rise with the cormorant in his talons, but it proved too much for b,im, and after three unsuccessful attempts he flew away, before I could approach within gun- 'shot. On the mountain back of the Cape Mears lighthouse there is an old nest that is s?id to have been used for several years by a pair of these birds. When visiting it dur- ing March, 1913, no eagles were present, but under the nest, which 'is placed about a hundred feet up in a large Douglas spruce, we found a large assortment of "bird bones among which could be .identified California Murre, small grebes (Colym5,?,8), cormor- ants, and a few bones of small ducks. Falco pere9rinus anatum. Duck Hawk Duck Hawks are of regular occurrence
