Bird Notes, Part 2, v659
Page 303
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
(407) twigs found there, then a little slumber-song, then rest. Greenie, just before Brownie's second rest period, had walked by my feet, climbed the tree, fooled with twigs near Brownie, saying be-voor repeatedly and accomplishing nothing constructive. When Brownie had ensconced herself in her night location Greenie went over to her; they talked a little and Greenie, as I was leaving, settled himself beside her facing away from her with his tail touching her. Except for resting so close together this episode was almost the exact duplicate of the preceding one. 6:00. During the afternoon I gave them worms two different times without their going to the dormitory tree. About 5:30 I gave them worms again. They finished up with soft food from their regular supply and faded away after Brownie had collected some soap-root (which she dropped). At 5:40 Brownie climbed up to her roost and when she was well settled I went in search of Greenie. I found him at last in a small oak about 30 or 40 feet east of Brownie where I have looked for him every time I have tried to locate his roosting place. Whether this is his regular place remains to be seen. The sun is just setting beyond the Marin hills (down at 6:10--official time 6:12) in a cloudless sky, so there is plenty of time for him to move about if he wishes to change. 6:23. Which is exactly what he did, for at 6:15 he was not there, but rustling about in Brownie's tree and she was gone. In a minute or two she came back on the ground, wiped her bill, and went back to her regular perch. Greenie, meanwhile, had moved to a pine tree the branches of which almost touch those of the oak. Consequently I still do not know where he roosts. It would look as if Brownie had gone for a last snack to fortify herself for the night, or perhaps the soft food had made her thirsty, as I have noticed it some- times does. Sept. 21st.