. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. Taken in San Bernardino County. The Burrowing Owl spaced evenly. The tunnel has more or less of the same material scattered throughout its length, and a certain amount distributed over the external mound is a necessary evidence of occupation. This is the approved form of upholstery, but some naughty birds near Dos Palos are indulging a more expensive fancy. Here, in three instances, we found tunnels lined copiously with wings of the Black Tern (Hyd
. The birds of California : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 580 species and subspecies of birds found in the state. Birds; Birds. Taken in San Bernardino County. The Burrowing Owl spaced evenly. The tunnel has more or less of the same material scattered throughout its length, and a certain amount distributed over the external mound is a necessary evidence of occupation. This is the approved form of upholstery, but some naughty birds near Dos Palos are indulging a more expensive fancy. Here, in three instances, we found tunnels lined copiously with wings of the Black Tern (Hydro- chelidon nigra surinam- ensis), and no less than a dozen pairs of these gruesome mementoes scattered about each front yard. This habit is doubtless quite excep- tional, and due to the special temptations of the immediate neighborhood. One need not kill these Owls to learn what else they feed upon, for half-eaten mice, dis- membered frogs and headless snakes litter the floor, and invite the offices of the far-venturing blow-fly. Fleas usually abound; and alto- gether the nuptial chamber of this doughty troglodyte is not an inviting place. From six to eleven young are raised in a single brood; and when we consider that the adults themselves require more than their own weight of animal food daily, we begin to form some conception of the economic importance of these birds. Their food includes all the baneful rout of rodents, and they are able to kill ground squirrels of a size equal to their own. Besides these, lizards, frogs, snakes, and even small fish, are cap- tured. Grasshoppers and crickets, as well as beetles of many sorts, are staple food, and for these the bird hunts by day as well as by night. In the pursuit of prey, however, the birds become much more active at sunset, when they may be seen flitting about on noiseless wing, or else hovering in mid air above a suspected spot, after the well known fashion of the Sparrow Hawk. Small game is snatched from the ground with
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1923
