Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Bush-Tit
Mayhew
1947
Mar. 8
Strawberry Canyon, U.C. campus, Alameda Co., Calif.
At 8:20 A.M. four members of this species were seen
and heard just north of the stadium in a small
oak tree. Shortly 2 of them flew off together, which
seems to signify that the winter flocks are breaking
up & the individuals pairing up. They uttered their
light call notes as they passed through the
tree. The nest of one of the pairs was found in a
small oak about 10' above the ground. It was
only partially completed. The site was in the
leafy part of the foliage toward the end of the
branch. At 8:38 A.M. one bird arrived at the nest,
where it remained but a few seconds, adding a bit of
material to the nest. All the while, it uttered its
little chirping note. The other bird approached
to about 20' of the nest, but departed when the
other bird left the nest area. At 8:44 A.M. both
birds arrived with material for the nest. The
first bird was at the nest 20 seconds, and
when it flew to a near-by tree, the second bird
flew to the nest & stayed for 25 seconds. It then
joined the other bird in the near-by oak from
which both departed. At 8:46 they returned with
oak catkins for the nest, but were alarmed before
they could deposit the material. At 8:48 A.M. they
both arrived at the nest again & both deposited
the material. They spent 25 seconds at the nest,
and then one of them returned with another
load 20 seconds later. At 8:54 A.M. they returned
with another load, landing first in the near-by
tree, then flew to the nest. It remained at the