Page:Bird-lore Vol 03.djvu/49

AN INCUBATING BALD EAGLE Photographed from life by C. William Beebe Notes from the New York Zoological Society I. ENTERPRISING EAGLES At the beginning of winter I placed a pair of atfiiit Bald Eagles in the large Hying cage of the New York Zoological Park, and the}' showed their appreciation of their semi- freedom by commencing housekeeping at once. They collected a quantity of sticks and grass around a small hollow in the ground near the center of the cage, and after lining the cavity with moss, the nest was considered finished. Both birds took part in its construction, antl from the con- tinual chuckling and screaming, thor- oughly enjoyed their work. Ivagles usually nest in trees, and these birds placed the nesting material around the roots of several saplings, the stems of which, protruding through the sticks and moss, look not un- like the top branches of a tall tree. Natur- ally the next thing to be thouglit of was eggs, but this pair of birds had original ideas, and intended, for a time at least, merely to play at housekeeping. A good- sized stone was brought from another part of the cage and placed in the nest, and the work of hatching began. The male and female Eagles sit on the nest on alternate days, and the bird not so engaged is always- perched on a log near by, on guard. The temperament of the birds has under- gone a complete change. When first placed in the cage they were easily caught and seldom offered resistance. Now one can- not approach to within twent' feet of the nest without being attacked by one or both Eagles. When they rush forward, one on each side, and strike with beak and uplifted feet, it is no eas}- matter to escape unharmed,, as I found when trying to photograph them, their talons reaching the skin every time, clothing and shoes affording little or no protection. What the outcome of this nesting attempt will be I do not know, but I hope the birds will soon lose faith in the stone and deposit two or three eggs. The fact that they are from Florida doubtless accounts for this, early attempt at nesting. — C. William Beebe, Assistant Curator of Birds. (34: