Page:Condor10(4).djvu/45

July, 1408 ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS OI* MESA COUNTY, COLORADO 175 the whole proposition of Martins in Mesa County I can positively say that they are only accidental here (Grand Junction), and have not bred here for 'over twenty years." I have occasionally seen them during June and July at a big beaver meadow at the head of Beaver Creek at about 9000 feet and am satisfied that they breed there. Petr0chelid0n lunifr0ns. Cliff Swallow. Summer resident, abundant. Prob- ably occurs in greater numbers within the County boundaries than any other bird. Breeds in immense colonies from the lowest parts of the County up to at least 9000 feet. There are several large colonies to be seen from the car windows in Grand Canyon just below DeBeque. Large flocks often take possession of barns and other out-buildings tho most of the birds resort to the sandstone ledges to breed. Ar- rives about May 1 and is rather irregular about nesting, but the bulk breed late in June. They are persistent birds and will rebuild repeatedly if the nests are de- stroyed. Departs south early in September. Mr. Sullivan's extreme dates of ar- rival and departure are April 29 and September 17. Hirund0 erythr0gaster. Barn Swallow. Summer resident, common. Nearly every ranch in the County has a few pairs of Barn Swallows nesting in the barns and outbuildings during the summer, and while they occur fully as regularly thruout the County as ?P. luni.?kons they are no where found in such large numbers. Arrives about May 1 and begins nest building at once; but the eggs are rarely laid before June 1, and two and sometimes three broods are raised in a season. Mr. Sullivan's extreme dates of arrival and departure are April 27 and September 3. Irid0pr0cne bic010r. Tree Swallow. Mr. Sullivan writes regarding this species, "A few noted here in company with the succeeding (Violet-green Swal- low). The time of arrival and departure corresponds to the Violet-green Swallow. I do not know that they breed; probably do in favored localities." This is the only definite information at hand altho the writer has often seen a bird in Plateau Valley that he took to belong to this species. Tachycineta thalassina. Violet-green Swallow. Summer resident, abundant. While it is more abundant in the higher portions of the County, it is common everywhere, nesting principally above 6000 feet during June and July. The writer has found it breeding both in hollow trees and in cavities in sand banks. Arrives about May 1 (my earliest date is April 22 at DeBeque) and departs for the south in September. Mr. Warren has seen it at Grand Junction as late as Sep- tember 30. Riparia riparia. Bank Swallow. Mr. Sullivan says of it, "Reasonably plenti- ful and breeds. Six young nearly ready to fly were dug out of a bank on the Gun- nison River on July 2, 1904. Extreme dates are May 1 and September 1." I have been unable to secure any further information on this species' occurrence in Mesa County. Ampelis garrulus. B6hemian Waxwing. Winter resident, rather common 'locally. In Plateau Valley this bird is a regular winter resident from 6000 to 7000 feet, feeding in large flocks and frequenting well timbered creek bottoms. They arrive with the first severe weather and leave for their breeding grounds early in April. Miss Eggleston reports them as rare migrants at Grand Junction. Lanius borealis. Northern Shrike. Winter resident, not common. Occas- ionally seen in all parts of the County during the winter months. A bird of soli- tary habits, never seen except singly or in pairs, and does not occur in large numbers at any time. Its stay in Colorado is largely governed by climatic con- ditions, arriving and leaving with severe weather. Lanius lud0vicianus excubit0rides. White-rumped Shrike. Miss Eggleston