The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-30
SONS BIRDS OF PREY.

| Points as to the Habits of the Eagles, 1 Hawks and Owls of the Atlantic Re- l zion.
 At the tops of tall old trees in the | heart of swamps and heavy woodland,
 situated usually in the vicinity of wa | ter, the bald eagle builds It's great
 mass of tangled roots and decayed | branches from the surrounding trees, or driftwood from the shores Is a con- l spicuous landmark for many miles around. Several carloads of wood are frequently used in the construction, and some of the eyries are occupied by the same birds for years. From two to three eggs of a dull white color and slightly larger than the domestic duck egg are deposited by the eagles In Feb ruary and March, and the young birds come out of the shells in time to get the benefit of the great run of fish in the waters of the bay early in the spring. The food of the young birds consists mainly of fish, wild fowls and occasion- ally small animals. The eagles habit of robbing the fish, hawk of its well-earned prey Is charac- teristic of it's foraging propensities. Fre- quently when hungry the great birds follow the fishhawk, and as the hawk arises from the water after plunge with cry the eagle sweeps downward upon the unfortunate fisher, and, caus- ing him to drop his prey, will, with a sudden motion, grasp the fish in his talons and, soaring upward, leave the ill-fated hawk screaming with rage be- low him. The eagles bully the fish, hawks to such an extent that the poor birds are afraid to meet their torment DTS and begin to cry out in a most pa- thetic manner when the eagles appear. As scavengers about the shores of the bay and it's tributaries the eagles are somewhat akin to the vultures, as they appropriate the dead fish and other flesh which is wased up by the waves.
 Although much of the eagles' prey comes to them with but little exertion, there are times when it becomes neces- sary for them to work for food. The great birds have been known, when pressed by hunger to swoop down Upon flocks of ducks, brant and even wild geese, selecting particular fowl as the flock scattered, and, giving chase, ,lsu- ally securing the quarry after flight of several hundred yards. Woundel ducks and other smaller wild fowl are legitimate prey for the eagles, and on the fresh water marshes muskrats which are left in the traps after sunrise are frequently appropria ted. Domestic fowls also suffer from raids of the eagles, and as the farmers are constant- ly on the watch for shot at the great birds the species are rapidly diminish- ing. Along the water courses of the eastern shore are favorite naunts of the eagles, and many nests are in the vic.n- ity of the streams. Marketing the large timber has destroyed many of the best nesting sites and few very old nests now remain in the state.
 The birds commonly known as black eagles are the young during their rifst year. when the plumage lacks the white head and tail which adorns the adult During the second year the erroneous name of gray eagles is commonly ap- piled to the birds and they do not ob- tain the plumage marks of m1turity un- til the third moulting season.
 Before the vernal squinox appears the