Bears and Hawks
Bears and Hawks
Mr. Dixon’s note in the last CONDOR (XXIX, 1927, p. 271), on the bear attempting to break into the woodpecker's nest, recalls a statement made by Mr. A. D. Henderson of Belvedere, Alberta. Mr. Henderson relates that in the Peace River country northwest of Belvedere, where he has had considerable experience, he noted that practically all the poplar trees containing large hawk's nests had at one time or another been climbed by bears. On the smooth, pale bark of these trees bear claws make very heavy characteristic scores that persist for many years as conspicuous black scars. Such nests are usually occupied in that country by Redtailed Hawks or Goshawks, Great Horned or Great Gray owls. The natural assumption is that bruin is one of our original egg collectors and knows as well the meaning of these great masses of sticks in the tree-tops as any oologist.
P. A. Taverner
National Museum of Canada, Ottawa, November 24, 1927
