S2 Page 70

Collector: Grinnell - 1925
Location: Mineral
Date: July 6
Page Number: 2523

and Western Bluebirds from the very sparse
blue oaks on the hot, glaring "plains" above Dale's,
where we changed a tire, was notable. Aren't these
birds really of "austral" predilection (origin), rather
than "boreal" (like the chickadees and creepers)?

July 7
9 a.m. - At camp. The brood of young Chipping Sparrow's
near camp left their nest yesterday (see p. 2482); I located
two of them nearby, in little yellow pines, this morning;
they are bob-tailed, with wisps of natal down still
adhering to the contour feather-tips on their heads. Time,
in this case, from beginning of incubation to departure of
young, approximately 21 days. The parents of this
brood are already starting another nest, I think; were
getting nest material, ^^{male singing now and then,} and copulated 4 times in one
minute, tho immediately afterward were greatly
concerned over my too close approach to a young one!

Found another Chipping Sparrow's nest, with 4
half-feathered young which would probably left [sic] for
good, had I disturbed them. Rim of nest only 780 mm.
above the ground. Nest located in thick^^-foliaged slanting
spray of ceanothus cordulatus, near edge of clump
of same, well sheltered and shaded by dense
leafage directly above. There were many
young yellow pines round about, but these
had been passed up for the low ceanothus -
in this instance. Also saw full-grown
and independent Chipping Sparrows elsewhere, in bush.