Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-12-05

hawks during the nesting season, and discovered
the fact new to science, that they prey upon
birds as well as on mammals. over the wno,e
course of his observations until the young Dlrds
had flown prairie dogs were found largely TO eX-
coed all other diet; but until the nestllngs were
about two weeks old, their food consisted PaItly
of meadowlarks (Sturnella negecta). Whlie
very little food was found in the nest taking into
consideration the frequent visits paid 70 IT, there
were seen altogether nine prairie dogs, one cot
ton-tail rabbit two bull snakes Zone 81 lncnes
long) and some remains Of sharptalled grouse
and meadowlarks. On two separate occasions,
while Mr. FELTON, kept watch near the eyre, the
wary female frequently passed and repassed over
head with meadowlark in her talons, as supse-
onently identified The bill of fare at all four
avrias was similar and meadowlarks, as demon
strated by their down and feathers, were pro-
vfded for the nestlngs. The Following interest,"
ing collection of remnants was seen al one nest.
-Four prairie dog skulls, the skeletons OF Two
hill snakes Zone of them being very large1. the
loo of sharptailed grouse, the wing and scapu-
lars OF maybe and the primaries OF meadow
lark Grouse and maybe remains were not Iound
until July II and 81, and were proved py lne
feathers to belong to young birds 10 the pest o.
my Knowledge. this species never attempts 10
take polltrv of any kind, and my own obsefva-
lions are strongly confirmed by Mr.. w Z. suit
van for 16 years manager or MT. Miner psau-
tifu Snuare Butte ranch where these hawks nave
always been protected on account OF the huHer-
As above narrated several pair breed annuaiy
nnon thn ranch and are constantly flying around
taa buildings. yet no chickens have ever poem
,nolasted Mr. Sullivan who Is close observer
~ natnre considers that. after the young can
a., ~ the fall these hawks suhsst chiefly upon
sonbers. and he has described TO me their meth-
ods of capturing them as follows: nave
,.atcheI the hawks often through glasses IN our
1falfa neld after the first crop has been taken on
rba no,ket gophers get pretty busy tunneilng'
oa rushing all the loose damp earth up IN phes
~ tho surface The hawks fly slowly over the
Acid unsil they discover fresh pie OF camp
aarth Here they will alight softly, and wait Tor
a. -aonhar to push close to the surface Ihey
,;I tban spread their wings and, rising rev
est - tho air come down stifTslegged into the
100 aarth when the gopher is transnxed ana
lo,abt ont | have seen them eat me gopher
whore caught and at other times carry y away.
tn the summer of 1908 about an acre q sFouhu
81 a. ccuare Butte ranch was covered with plies
- h,,,,dinp material such rs lumber, posts ana
ha.vv shed timbers which had been collected
49, .ba previous year Numbers OF cotton-tail
sah,s;t lived under these piles, and provided an
aecasrnal meal both for the hawks ana for the
aob cat which was female taDoy. on
aasta; dav Mr.. Miner lowner OF the ranenl nap
,aaaa - he engaged in conversation with AT
g..,,;s.n near pile CT posts. upon which the
=. a,,s masking iii the sun with one eye open
Sas y anance rabbit, as usual ferruglnous