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May, I9o7 THE BREEDING BIRDS OF ESCONDIDO 87 years to roy knowledge and were "old residents" before that. Only three pairs known in a radius of thirty miles. Nesting early in April. Falc0 sparverius. American Sparrow Hawk. Common resident, nesting anywhere it ca? find a tree with a suitable cavity. March 25 to June 14. Strix pratinc01a. American Barn Owl. Common resident. Nesting in any suitable place. Has been found in trees, crevices in ledges, pigeon boxes, inside a huge wood-rat's nest, at the entrance to a .tunnel in an abandoned mining shaft, 65 feet below the surface, and in an old crow's nest. March 11 (advanced) to May 22 (advanced). Asi0 wils0nianus. American Long-eared Owl. Common resident. Up to a few years ago almost every old crow's, hawk's or rat's nest along the river in San Pasqual had its pair of owls. Of late, for some unknown reason they have been less plentiful. As probably half of the eggs produced were successfully hatched (to make a very low estimate) and the birds are seldom molested, it is rather dif- ficult to account for their apparently diminishing numbers. The earliest recorded set was taken by the late J. M. Hatch on February 14, 1896. Eggs have been found fresh on the 10th of May. Megasc0ps asi0 bendirei. California Screech Owl. Not a common resident. More often heard at night than seen in the daytime, and probably its apparent rarity can be accounted for by its noctur?al habits. March 24 to May 31 (advanced). Bub0 virginianus pacifict?s. Pacific Horned Owl. Not a common resident. More plentiful in the higher interior valleys. February 2 to March 16. Spe0tyt0 cunicularia hyp0gtea. Burrowing Owl. Common everywhere. March 23 to June 16 (commenced). Glaucidium gn0ma. Pygmy Owl. A pair of these 'diminutive owls were found nesting at Escondido by the late J. M. Hatch in 1895 and 1896. The nests were in oaks ?ot far apart both being in hollow, nearly horizontal limbs with openings allowing access to the nest from either side. The first nest had, I believe, very badly incubated eggs and was not disturbed. It was not located the following year until the eggs had hatched. The trees were shortly after cut down and the birds disappeared. There are no other instances of the species being seen here. Mr. Chas. Schnack who was with Mr. Hatch when the second nest was found tells me the owls had a curious trick of flattening themselves out on a branch so that it was almost impossible to tell them from the branch itself. Ge0coccyx calif0rnianus. Road-rtmner. Common everywhere, especially around the cactus patches. Most every patch of any size has its nest. February 14 (advanced) to June 1 (commenced). Dry0bates pubescens turati. Willow Woodpecker. Rather rare among the willows along the river in San Pasqual. April 22 to May 24. Dry0bates nuttalli. Nuttall Woodpecker. Rather common among the willows in San Pasqual and in the low-lying oaks near the river. Rarely seen in Escon- dido. April 15 to June 18. l?lelanerpes f0rmiciv0rus bairdi. California Woodpecker. Rare in the valleys. Never seen in San Pasqual. Common however in the higher interior valleys. May 24 (young) to June 11. C01aptes caret c011aris. Red-shafted Flicker. Not uncommon in San Pasqual and Escondido where there is suitable timber for it to operate upon. April 14 to June 15. Phala?n0ptilus nuttalli calif0rnicus. Dusky Poor-will. Altho no authentic record of the breeding of this species here has been secured it is without doubt en-