LOCAL BIRD LIST

In this connection it might be of interest to list the birds found in a half day's study about the meadow and in the woods near Longmire Springs - elevation 2760 feet.

Western Savannah Sparrow, one. A rare visitor.
Western White Crowned Sparrow, many.
Western Golden Crowned Sparrow, a few.
Rusty Song Sparrow - numerous.
Fox Sparrow, one.
Shofeldt's Junco, numerous, nesting.
Varied Thrushes, numerous, prominent songsters.
Western Robin, numerous nesting.
Golden Crowned Kinglets, many.
Ruby Crowned Kinglets, many.
Gairdner's Woodpeckers, numerous.
Harris Woodpeckers, a few.
Northwest Flicker, common
Raven, numerous
Western Crow.
Western Winter Wren
Steller Jay, numerous
Gray Jay, numerous
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, numerous
Rufus Humming Bird
Violet Green Swallow, a few.
Brewer Blackbird. This is my first record at Longmire.
Western Flycatcher.
A medium sized hawk - probably Sharp Shinned.

During the month I have seen the following species in addition to the above:

Water Ouzel, Harlequin Duck, two unidentified ducks (late in the evening) Sooty Grouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Magnolia Warbler and Gray Owl.

A NARROW ESCAPE

May is very early spring in the high valleys and warm sunshiny days are appreciated by the little furry folks.

On one of these days I was sitting in the dining room of Paradise Inn looking through the door. Suddenly, almost the entire view, was obstructed by a great hawk sweeping directly at the door. I was so startled by this strange performance that I leaped to my feet. The hawk saw the movement and turned aside at the very threshold. Then I saw what I had not noticed before - the reason for such strange actions. At my feet on the warm doorstep was a tiny bundle of fur the size of a tennis ball and about as round. I could see no head or tail to it. He was still blissfully ignorant of the fact that the messenger of death had passed by, when I took him in my hand. Then there was action aplenty and I had my hands full of squirming, scratching, biting Field mouse. I was glad to let him go but the hawk might not have been so generous.