Page:Condor10(4).djvu/33

July, 1908 ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS Olt MESA COUNTY, COLORADO 163 [Falco mexicanus. Prairie Falcon. Cooke says, "In some of the more open portions of western Colorado it is qnite numerons." Carter found it breeding in Middle Park. Probably is a not uncommon resident locally. ] [Falco peregrinus ariaturn. Duck Hawk. Cooke reports it as breeding np to 10,000 feet, and it has been fouml breeding in different parts of western Colorado. Probably occurs regularly as a resident but never commonly.] Falc0 c01umbarius. Pigeon Hawk. The only record of this species at hand is one seen by the writer December 23, 1901, on Plateau Creek at about 6,000 feet. It probably occurs regularly but rather rarely. [Falco richardsoni. Richardson Merlin. Prohalfiy occnrs occasionally in migration.] Falc0 sparverius phal?na. Desert Sparrow Hawk. Summer resident, abnndant. By far the most abundant raptorial bird found in the County. Arrives the first of April and breeds during the whole of May and June up to at least 8,500 feet. As s?n as the young are able to fly they congregate in small flocks and fre- quent the fields feeding chiefly on nfice and grasshoppers. By November first all have left for the south. The choice of a nesting site varies greatly. I have found them breeding in cedar stumps within four feet of the ground, in cavities in sandstone ledges and one pair nested in the roof of a small schoolhouse. Pandi0n haliaetus car01inensis. Amer- ican Osprey. Irregular migrant. Miss Eggleston says of this bird, "Occasionally seen perched along the high banks of the Rio Colorado watching for fish. It is a solitary bird only one being seen at a time. ' ' Asio wilsonianus. American Long- cared Owl. Resident, not uncommon. This bird is occasionally met with along the creek bottoms and in dense willow thickets around springs, but on account of its retiring habits is little known. Nests about the middle of April, usually in willow thickets. Feeds largely upon snmll birds and mammals. Asio accipitrinus. Short-cared Owl. " The only record at hand for this species is of one seen by the writer during the SPARROV*' winter of 1904-05 in Plateau Valley, at about 6,500, during a spell of unusually cold weather. It was hunting?,-around the stock-yards, evidently looking for mice. It is probably of very uncom- nlon occurrence. [Cryptoglaux aeadica. Saw-whet Owl. Cooke says of this species that it occurs thruout the State below 8000 feet. Probably occurs rarely in .Mesa County.] Bub0 virginianus pallescens. Western Horned Owl. Resident, not uncom- mon. Altho I have not found it nesting there can be no doubt but what this bird breeds in the County as I have seen it all thru the winter and in June 1897 I saw an adult bird and two young of the year. I have no positive information as to whether the Mesa County bird is referable to arcticus or to pal/escens but am led to believe it is the latter. Speotyto cunicularia hypog/ea. Burrowing Owl. Miss Eggleston says this