Hutton Vireo with Young in February
Hutton Vireo with Young in February
On February 26, 1938, while studying birds in the hills back of Whittier, California, I was surprised to see a Hutton Vireo (Vireo huttoni huttotai) approaching a nest. This was situated on the extreme end of an oak limb, pensiled, and in an exposed position. It was approximately 20 feet from the ground. The nesting tree was in the center of a group of oaks on a hill side.
The nest was of the usual Hutton Vireo type, made of fine fibers covered with green moss and lined with fine grasses. Unable to reach the nest, which I supposed to be ready for eggs, I climbed a nearby oak and with the aid of field glasses obtained a good look at the nest and its occupants, namely, four baby vireos, which were probably a day or two old.
On March 14, I returned to the nest, to find it empty and the four young birds in a nearby elderberry tree. I caught one of them and it perched on my hand for some time. The parents were anxious as to its well-being and came very close to me. The young bird finally heeded their frantic calls and flew back in10 the tree. At this time an industrious pair of Green-backed Goldfinches was removing the nesting material from the vireo’s nest and placing it in their own nest in a nearby tree.
E. M. Hall
Whittier, California, June 9, 1938
