Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Mch 30 Spring Creek
Sunny morning, 42F at 7:00 am. I drove to Spring Creek, reach-
ing the area before 7:30. Titmouse singing in oaks upstream from
road crossing in area where I had shot at titmouse which I
followed 8:20 - 9:30. I followed the bird as it sang peta
peta (answered by titmouse to NE) This individual was wary,
keeping well ahead of me - once it moved into big live oak from
mesquite thicket and called vet vet vet (a scold?) Then
song resumed - only one voice involved. I collected
this bird (514) as it moved through a clump of postoaks
using a half load at 7:43. For the next 15 minutes I walk-
ed along the creek bank, in and out among the oaks watching
and listening all the way to the oil pipeline (where bird had
gone yesterday) This eastern boundary was only a few yards
from the point where I took a pair of thrice yesterday. The bird
ranged nearly 1/4 mile along the creek. I think it was unusual
for it sang continually and from the condition of the 2 taken
yesterday, I doubt if any of these thrice are nesting yet.
I walked north into area occupied by the other titmouse
at 8:05 - silence as I wrote notes within area until
8:17. I wacked on, back and forth through the area until
8:35. By this time, WIND FROM SOUTH 3-4 mph. I returned
to the car and drove E 0.6 miles to another branch of the creek,
lined with liveoaks openly spaced. I started walking N of
the road and NW side of creek. I heard first a mockingbird
singing peta peta, then definitely a titmouse. The bird
was singing from a postoak in a sparsely-wooded area E of
the creek & north of the road. Apparently the brush had