The First Occurrence of the Kingbird in Austin During the Breeding Season
The First Occurrence of the Kingbird in Austin During the Breeding Season
On April 7, 1902, while walking along the outskirts of town, a strange bird flew up from the path and lit in a neighboring tree. I at once noted it down as a new arrival. I did not see this bird again until May 20, when it was in company with another of the same species. One was sitting on a telephone wire and the other was in a fork of a large live oak tree. When it flew away I saw that they had begun to construct a nest in the fork. Some string and a few sticks were evidence of same. Each day as I went by the tree (for it lay directly in my path to town), one of the birds was always there busily working. On June 1st I climbed up to the nest, which was at the extremity of a slender limb, and appeared to be complete. While I was near the nest both birds stayed in the vicinity and even fluttered around my head. While they were near me I had a good view of them and at once identified them as kingbirds. On June 8 I again visited the nest and it contained two eggs. Leaving these I returned on June 11 and still there were only the two eggs. Thinking that this was their completment I secured the nest, which was difficult to reach. It was built very firmly in the fork, and composed of twigs, string, cotton, bark, weeds and rags, lined with hair, cotton and feathers. The eggs were identically the same as a set which I obtained from Rhode Island with exception of the size which is slightly less.
H. KOFAHL
Austin, Texas
