. The Canadian field-naturalist. , 1950] The Canadian Field-Naturalist 179. Fig. 1. Vertical (left) and horizontal barrels ready for placement. BIRDS Decapitated carcass of flicker (Colaptes auratus) meadowlark (Sturnella magna) Feathers of blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus) catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) robin (Turdus migratorius) English sparrow (Passer domesticus) cardinal (Richmondena cardinalis) redpoll (Acanthis flammea) goldfinch (Spinus tristis) slate-coloured junco (Junco hyemalis) tree sparrow (Spizella arborea) white-crowned spa
. The Canadian field-naturalist. , 1950] The Canadian Field-Naturalist 179. Fig. 1. Vertical (left) and horizontal barrels ready for placement. BIRDS Decapitated carcass of flicker (Colaptes auratus) meadowlark (Sturnella magna) Feathers of blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus) catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) robin (Turdus migratorius) English sparrow (Passer domesticus) cardinal (Richmondena cardinalis) redpoll (Acanthis flammea) goldfinch (Spinus tristis) slate-coloured junco (Junco hyemalis) tree sparrow (Spizella arborea) white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) OTHER FOOD fish (mostly Cyprinidae) crayfish (broken remains) Decapitated mice were frequently found in barrels. This suggests that the screech owl often eats the head of its victim first, and leaves the remainder for a future occa- sion. The head of the victim may be the pre- ferred part of the screech owl's meal. When the snow is deep, screech owls are most often found in barrels located near open water patches of streams. These barrels then contain remains of fish left by owls. Fish are mostly about three inches long. Common suckers (Catostomus commersonnii) seven inches long were found on two oc- casions. BARREL OCCUPANTS OTHER THAN SCREECH OWLS Gray and red squirrels (Sciurus carolinen- sis and Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, respective- ly) use the barrels almost as much as does the screech owl. As many as six young white-footed mice (Peromyscus) have been found at one time in barrel nests. Sparrow hawks (Falco sparverius) nest in barrels that are placed in open country. One barrel contained a sparrow hawk's nest four years in succession, and one of the adults used the barrel all winter for three winters. Crested flycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus) and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) have nested in them. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) has been found during the day in barrels, almost completely filling them. The flicker (Co- l
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