The Condor/Volume 9/Number 2/Do Birds Desert Young?
Do Birds Desert Young?—Mr. W. Otto Emerson tells of a newly mated pair of orioles (Icterus bullocki) that he saw one day about a grove of eucalyptus trees. The male was in fine plumage, and he shot it for his collection. The next day the female appeared with a new husband who was as bright and fine looking as the bird that was killed the day before. At first chance this male was also shot, partly it was said, because of his fine plumage, and partly to see if the female could find another mate as readily. Two days later she appeared with a third husband, who went the way of the two former ones. The female then disappeared for a few days, but returned again with a fourth suitor. These two began building and soon had a home in the eucalyptus grove. This may be a remarkable case of wooing and winning, but very likely the widow oriole was breaking up other families.
Whenever I have found nests that were deserted when they contained eggs or young, I have attributed it to accidental death of one or both of the parents. But this is not always so.
During the summer of 1905, I was making a study of a family of Bullock orioles that nested in a willow tree. On June 13, there were three half-grown young in the nest. Both male and female were feeding. Suddenly, I noticed a brighter colored male fly over and light in a nearby tree while the father of the nestlings darted at him and drove him off. The next morning I noticed the same male appear and there was another fight. In the afternoon I heard the intruder, singing at the upper end of the orchard. The mother had been feeding her young, but as the hours passed her visits were fewer and I noticed only the male was bringing food. The next day the female had deserted her young entirely, for only the male was about, and he had assumed entire charge of the household.
It happened that a rain storm came up that night, and as the young birds were not hovered we found them dead the next morning. The male was about with food, but there were no young to be fed. He stayed about most of the day, but I did not see the mother again. From all appearances, she was a deliberate deserter. Can it be that some birds are as unbirdlike as some people are inhuman?—William L. Finley, Portland, Oregon.