Band-Tailed Pigeon Nesting in Arizona in September
Band-tailed Pigeon Nesting in Arizona in September
On September 9, 1923, while at Soldier Camp in the Santa Catalina Mountains on a hiking trip, my attention was called to a pair of Band-tailed Pigeons (Columba fasciata) working in the western yellow pine over the ranger cabin. Observation with an 8-power prism binocular established the fact that they were engaged in the construction of a nest. It was difficult for me to believe that nest building was being done at so late a date. Some hours later the same day, on returning from the hike, these observations were again checked. The birds were under observation for a total of not less than an hour. I hoped to secure from the ranger or others further information as to whether young were actually reared, but learned nothing more. At the time, I believed this was an aberrant occurrence, but from a recent note (Grinnell, CONDOR xxx, p. 126) I am lead to wonder whether it may not have been a normal nesting.
Chas. T. Vorhies
Tucson, Arizona, May 9, 1928
