The San Francisco call., 1906-10-21

near the eagles. and imagined thsv
came sneak4ng around at times when
the parents were not at home. Just to
see what was going on. One day
was sitting on the edge OF the nest
with my feet dangling over when ono
OF the curious jays came up from be-
hind He didn't notice me until he
alighted. sQuawking. close by. Ais
squaw.king-valve closed short on with
squeak Of surprise; he threw up his
wings IN horror and fell backward. The
bluejay himself would have chuclklsd
IN enjoyment at the sight OF the joke
had 1t not been on him. I enjoyed it
hugely, but IT was all Greek to tho
eagles. Life IS a cruel. harsh reality
1t is blood from birth to death with
them
A Feudal Baron He.
The golden eagle appeals to me a. Q
real baron OF the middle ages. with
his castle and his hunting preserve.
The sycamore is his permanent home.
the heavens above the ridge and the
s5w-lying fields are his with no Quss-
tioning, summer and winter. He 10
more than a match for any animal OF
his size. Not a beast OF the field
nor fowl of the air can drive him
OUT he stands firm before every earth
ly power except the hand OF man He
Is shy and wary at all times, clean
and handsome. swift IN fight and
strong in body An experience gained
eagle as formidable as any creature OF
the wild outdoor.
The eagles revolted at the sight sf
human being. They opened their
mouths IN defiance when we first
looked over the nest edge. nor wero
they one whit less savage for all our
visits. From the first they would have
ha
touch them. They submitted to US az
a Gagged lion endures his keeper. Meek
ness and mercy are no part of the life
OF the eagle. Theirs was a savage
spirit that could not more be tanned
by the human hand than could the
hooked beak and claws be Changed
Deep-set under each shaggy brow was
an eye of piercing glare that seemed al
ways searching the far-away blue OF
the distance. It was the eye OF an
eagle. and nothing else can describe IT.
After three months OF human acQuaint-
ance 1t was the real king OF birds that
left the birthplace. never again to be
touched alive by the hand Of man.
The golden eagle was formerly
found east of the Mississippi. as well
as west. but it does not now frequent
the more settled portions. A single
pair may still live in the widest re-
gions OF New England or Northern
New York, or few may still have
their home in the mountains OF the two
Virginias, Kentucky, Tennessee. Geor-
gia or the Carolinas. The bird Is not
common anywhere, yet 1t is still found
in the mountainous regions OF the
West, especially in portions OF Califor-
mia. In the Rocky Mountains the
golden eagle often builds Its. nest on
the high cliffs, but in California and
Oregon its favorite nesting sites are
the pines, oaks or sycamores OF the
deep canyons or the rugged slopes.
Although still found in the wilder re-
gions OF California, these birds have
suffered from collectors during the last
decade. Their habit OF occupying the
same aerie year after year enables the
collector. after once locating the nest.
to make his yearly raid to advantage,
as the eggs are rare enough to have
a good market value One nest was
robbed for three successive years and
the female killed, but the male Sc
cured another mate and kept tho sane
nest the following season. But where
the eagles are robbed continually for
several years they are sure to be driven
away They have entirely disappeared
from certain places where they were
once regular residents.
A Fine individuality.
In several cases have known the
golden eagle to show as marked an
individuality as person In one aerie
that was used 1t is recorded that pair
OF birds showed a peculiar liking for
bulbous plant commonly known as
the Spanish soap root. and every year
they adorned the nest with the large.
hairlilxe top of this plant Another
case is on record where the eagles had
a peculiar liking for grain sacks.
which were used in the lining OF the
nest. The first time this nest was dis
covered 1t contained a large grain
sack. but the storms OF the following
winter disIodged the nest. The new
nest that was built the next year was
again lined with grain sack.
1t is often the case that a pair OF
eagles will inhabit the same locality
for several years and make no attempt
at rearing a brood Perhaps these
are young eagles; many birds do not
s breed till after the second or third
year. In other instances a pair will
repair an old nest and stay about all
the nesting season and yet not go to
Housekeeping. In few rare Instances
the golden eagle has been known to
lay three eggs, but two is the usual
number.
What does such a series OF pictures
represent? Three months OF patient
waiting, varied by six long mountain
trips of two days each-backaching
tramps up trails to the summit OF a
rock-strewn ridge. with a heavy camera
equipment. and the swapping Of over
a hundred Ski plates. exposed at every
available view OF the stronghold. from
terra hrna to treetop. The series OF
pictures gives the exact data OF Just
how long it takes an eagle to rear its
brood. from the time the eggs are laid
till the birds leave the nest
We made careful study OF the nest
ing habits OF a finch to serve a a com
parison between the small, seed-eatinx
birds and the largest birds of prey.
The dates give an idea OF what a difren-
ence there is IN the growth and devei-
opment of the birds.
found the finch building its nest
and watched It. closely. The home was
lined and completed June "a. 1t con-
tanned three eggs on the 27th- On July
s the eggs Matched, and the young were
able to leave the nest July 16. In
other words. II took nineteen days for
the fnches to hatch the eggs and rear
the family, or about three weeks to
build the nest and send the young
birds forth into the world