Part 7

3.--Clutch-size. Information on number of eggs is given for each species according to the mode, followed by the mean, the range, and the size of the sample.

4.--Distribution in Kansas. Information on distribution in the breeding season within the borders of Kansas is given in accounts below chiefly by reference to one or more counties of the State. Location of counties can be made by referring to Figure 10.

=Pied-billed Grebe=: Podilymbus podiceps podiceps (Linnaeus).--This is a common but local summer resident, in and on ponds, marshes, streams, ditches, and lakes. The species can be seen in the State at any time, but usually arrives in the period March 1 to April 13 (the median is March 21), and departs southward in the period October 13 to November 18 (the median is October 24).

Breeding schedule.--Nineteen records of breeding span the period May 1 to June 30; the modal date for egg-laying is May 15.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 4 to 10 eggs.

Nests are floating masses of marsh vegetation (cattail, smartweed, duckweed, filamentous green algae, and the like), kept green on top by addition of fresh material, in or at the edge of emergent marsh vegetation.

=Double-crested Cormorant=: Phalacrocorax auritus auritus (Lesson).--This is a transient, but has been found nesting on one occasion in Barton County (Tordoff, 1956:311).

Breeding schedule.--Eggs were laid in July and August in the one known nesting effort.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 2 to 4 eggs (Davie, 1898).

=Great Blue Heron=: Ardea herodias Linnaeus.--This common summer resident nests in tall trees along rivers, streams, and marshes. The sector of greatest abundance is the Flint Hills. A. h. herodias Linnaeus occurs in extreme northeastern Kansas, A. h. wardi Ridgway breeds in southeastern Kansas, and A. h. treganzai Court breeds in western Kansas; specimens showing intermediate morphology have been taken from the central part of the State. Occurrence in time, exclusive of the few that overwinter in Kansas, is shown in Table 10.

Breeding schedule.--Seventy-seven records of breeding span the period March 1 to April 30 (Fig. 3); the modal date of egg-laying is April 5.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 4 eggs (4.4, 3-6; 36).

Nests are placed in crotches of sycamore, cottonwood, elm, hackberry, oak, and walnut, from 30 to 60 feet high; the average height is about 40 feet.

TABLE 10.--OCCURRENCE IN TIME OF SUMMER RESIDENT HERONS IN KANSAS

================+==========================+============================= | Arrival | Departure SPECIES +----------------+---------+------------------+---------- | Range | Median | Range | Median ----------------+----------------+---------+------------------+---------- Great Blue Heron| Feb. 4-Apr. 8 | Mar. 20 | Oct. 10-Nov. 29 | Oct. 23 Green Heron | Mar. 29-May 4 | Apr. 27 | Sept. 1-Oct. 30 | Sept. 9 Common Egret | Apr. 8-May 12 | Apr. 2 | Sept. 4-Sept. 30 | Sept. 21 Black-crowned | | | | Night Heron | Mar. 27-May 18 | Apr. 25 | Sept. 10-Nov. 11 | Sept. 25 Yellow-crowned | | | | Night Heron | Apr. 15-May 18 | Apr. 27 | | American Bittern| Apr. 4-May 9 | May 1 | Oct. 6-Dec. 12 | Oct. 16 Least Bittern | Apr. 9-May 22 | Apr. 8 | Oct. 24 | ----------------+----------------+---------+------------------+----------

=Green Heron=: Butorides virescens virescens (Linnaeus).--This is a common summer resident about streams, lakes, and marshes throughout the State. Some characteristics of the temporal occurrence of this species are indicated in Table 10.

Breeding schedule.--Twenty-eight records of breeding span the period April 21 to June 20 (Fig. 3); the modal date of completion of clutches is May 5.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 3 eggs (3.1, 3-5; 17).

Nests are placed about 10 feet high (two to 35 feet) in willow, cottonwood, elm, and the like.

=Little Blue Heron=: Florida caerulea caerulea (Linnaeus).--This is chiefly a postbreeding summer visitant, but there is one record of breeding in Finney County (Tordoff, 1956:312).

Breeding schedule.--There is no information on breeding schedule in Kansas or in adjacent areas.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 2 to 4 eggs (Davie, 1898).

Nests are placed in trees and bushes at various heights above the ground.

=Common Egret=: Casmerodius albus egretta (Gmelin).--This is a postbreeding summer visitant, but has been found nesting once in Cowley County (Johnston, 1960:10). Occurrence in time is listed in Table 10.

Breeding schedule.--There is no information on breeding schedule in Kansas.

Number of eggs.--Clutch-size is 2 to 4 eggs (Davie, 1898).

Nests are placed in trees, usually above 20 feet in height; the one instance of nesting in the State was within a colony of Great Blue Herons.

=Snowy Egret=: Leucophoyx thula thula (Molina).--This postbreeding summer visitant has been found nesting once in Finney County (Tordoff, 1956:312).