A Saw-Whet Owl Nest on Mount Pinos, California
A Saw-whet Owl Nest on Mount Pinos, California
On June 9, 1940, Frank Brundige and I were collecting on Mount Pinos, Ventura County. While I was climbing to a Red-breasted Sapsucker’s nest in the dead top of a tall pine tree, Frank scouted out some likely woodpecker holes in the near vicinity; two in particular looked very promising. After hitting one of the dead pine stubs twice with large rocks a small head appeared in an enlarged flicker hole. It so camouflaged the hole that when I came to see what the bird was, I was unable to find the previously prominent hole. With great difficulty Brundige was able to point it out to me.
Dead limbs formed a frail ladder to the nest, and soon we were on the way up. A Saw-whet Owl (Cryptoglaur acadica) flushed heavily from the hole, but stopped in a near-by tree affording us a good look at her. Her breast showed signs of incubation so we were heartened at the prospect of a breeding bird. The hole had been enlarged by decay and was only about five inches deep. It contained a newly hatched chick and five eggs. Because of constant pestering by a female Western Tanager, the owl flew away and did not return while we were at the nest.
The following week Brundige and Sidney Peyton returned to the nest and banded three of the young birds. The two others were too small for banding. Mr. Peyton removed the sixth egg, which was addled, and after some careful washing found that it was a light-colored Sparrow Hawk’s egg.
The Saw-whet Owl is a rare breeder in southern California.
Edward M. Hall
Whittier, California, July 22, 1940
