April 7, 1944 Mtn. Home - continued: Reservoir: Black-billed Magpie. Several pairs were seen and also nests. Found 3 old nests and seven new nests, 2 of which had eggs. One nest, at eye level, had 4 pale green eegs, heavily marked with dirty brown. The other nest, at knee level, had only 3 eggs. The eggs seemed to average 1/4" -1/2" by 3/4" - 1" in size. The vegetation around the reservoir ranged from acres of bur-weed to scattered patches of shrubs (willows) up to 10 feet in height. (One old nest was in sagebrush). Nests were at following levels (the actual nesting cavity) : 7', 6', 6', 4', 5', 2/2', 31/2', 41/2', 5', 6'. Marsh hawks were in the area and were constantly harassing the pairs of Magpies. As many as 4 were seen at one time. Two being white below and gray above; with black wing tips, and the other two were dark brown with some buffy striping, but all four had the white rump patch. A lot of the time was spent in chasing each other thru the skies. One pair appeared to almost come to "blows" which evidently is part of the court- ing procedure. They emitted their "squeaks" quite often. They were loud and plain. I observed, simultaneously, both males (grey) set their wings in a glide, let their legs hang limp below their body, and watched them glide to the ground, where they stayed for several minutes, apparently doing nothing, except for the occasional "squeak" note of theirs. These birds lit in open spots about 100 feet apart. Also these male birds would dive from about 200' straight down and when within a few feet of the ground, they "reversed direction", and swooped vertically into the air to about 100', winged over and dove again, and swooped up again to about 50', winged over and dove again, swooped up to about 25' or 30' and did at least 3 more of these vertical dives and climbs at lesser heights. While doing this they occasionally emitted "squeaks". Dixie & vicinity: Elevation 4000' to 4500'. The tree frogs, seemed larger than W. Oregons, red under hind legs, blackish voice pouch, and general grayish color above. Amer. Ravens Turkey Vultures (2) - the first of the year. Marsh Hawk Ground Squirrels (picket pins) Mallards Evidence of Badgers digging out ground squirrel burroughs. April 12, 1944 - Mtn. Home to Reservoir NW of town. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cumulus, cu-mulo- nimbus, and cirrus. Easterly winds 15-20mph. English Sparrow - I observed a "colony" of 24 nests in two 30' locust trees in front of a house near the edge of town. All seemed to be occupied. There were others in the area, as well. House Finch (100's) and I observed one pair building a cotton-lined nest in ahoney-suckle vine on the porch of the Lamb place, in town. On April 9, my wife observed 2 greenish (or bluish), spotted eggs in the nest, but they were not there today. However, they may have disappeared is a mystery to us. At any rate, the pair of finches were carrying more building materials to the nest when we left. Treganza Blue Heron Killdeer W. Crows (17) RS Flicker Desert Horned Larks (3) Blk-billed Magpies (10-15) Pipits (4) W. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) Ravens (22) W. Robins W. Meaowlark (some singing in the air, and towering into the Mallards (75) M & F air ecstatically) Baldpates (250 M & F) Buffleheads (2 M&F) Pintails (12M&F) Marsh Hawks doing more fancy diving, alighting on the ground and just sitting there. The male bird is always the one that does this. Nev. Redwings: About 200 males and 15 females in short willow growth. As we approached all the males took perches on the top of all available shrubs and proceeded to scold us thoroughly. Western Sandpipers (5) observed along the edge of the reservoir: Quite small 3-4" body, black bill and legs. Bill 1-1/4" long. Tawny mottled above. Gray white below. Black spots on folded wings. Plaintive call notes. Head and neck, onto chest, a light gray- brown, streaked. A definite demarcation line between this color and the underside gray- white, on the chest. Their warning notes seemed to be a musical trilled-rattle. Seemed quite bold. Allowed me to approach to 10 or 15 feet, upright, before they flew. (continued on next page.)