( 160 ) NOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF THE SWISS NATIONAL PARK.

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1 ( 160 ) NOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF THE SWISS NATIONAL PARK. BY W. H. THORPE, M.B.O.O. THE Swiss National Park is situated in the extreme southeast of Graubiinden. It is roughly 56 sq. miles in area and is of irregular outline, stretching from near Scanfs to the neighbourhood of Schuls in the Lower Engadine, its southern boundary coinciding for a considerable distance with the Swiss-Italian frontier. Thus situated, the Park includes some of the wildest and most sparsely populated country in the whole of Switzerland and is therefore of great interest to the naturalist. All wild life is very strictly protected, the object of the Park Committee being to preserve the indigenous fauna and flora under absolutely natural conditions ; and although only comparatively recently established the first reservation was made in 1908 there is already a marked increase in the plant and animal life of the district ; the large numbers of Chamois and the quantity of bird life being especially noticeable. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a short time in the Park this summer under the guidance of Professor Zschokke of Basel University, and the following notes deal with some of the birds to be observed in the district. They are mainly the result of personal observation in the Engadine in 1923 and in other parts of Switzerland in 1921 and Perhaps the most typical bird of the Swiss coniferous forests is the Thick-billed Nutcracker (Nucifraga c. caryocalactes). It is found in suitable localities throughout the Swiss Alps, being most plentiful where the forests consist mainly of the Arolla Pine (Pinus cemhra), the seeds of which form its chief article of food. It may frequently be seen, perched generally on the top of some favourite tree, busy extracting the seeds from a cone, and there is little doubt that it thus plays an important part in extending the range of the Arolla Pine ; this effect being well shown, as Dr. S. Brunies remarks,* by the distribution of the tree in scattered clumps in some of the valleys of the National Park. The chocolate and white plumage and the white-tipped tail feathers make identification very easy, and the harsh and high-pitched " Gurrrrr " is one of the most frequent sounds of the Swiss forests. I * Le Pare National Suisse. Benno Schwabe et Cie, Bale.

VOL. xvn.] SWISS NATIONAL PARK. 161 have also several times heard the peculiar note so effectively described by Howard Saunders as " like a sprung rattle.

2 VOL. xvn.] SWISS NATIONAL PARK. 161 have also several times heard the peculiar note so effectively described by Howard Saunders as " like a sprung rattle."* Among the Corvidse must also be mentioned the Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax gracuhts) which is generally common above the tree line. I have never observed it lower than 7,c oo ft.; but in the day time the flocks tend to go up higher, and I have seen them well over 13,000 ft. They feed largely on the snail Helicigona arbustomm which is found nearly up SWISS NATIONAL PARK : PIZ QUATER VALS AND VAL SASSA. (Photographed by W. H. Thorpe.) to the snow line, but where there are high cmlets or Alpine huts they may be frequently seen searching for scraps, and they will eagerly seize any piece of food thrown down on the snow. They are easily distinguished from the Chough (P. pyrrhocorax), which is much rarer, by the shorter yellow bill and small size. Among the smaller Passerine birds the Common Crossbill (Loxia c. curvirostra) is found, small parties being frequently * Ibis, 1891, p. 174.

3 162 BRITISH BIKDS. [VOL. xvn.. seen moving through the forests of the Park keeping up a^ continuous chatter as they go, attracting attention by their peculiar actions and varied plumages. The Snowfinch (Montifringilla n. nivalis) occurs throughout the Park in suitable places, and parties are to be seen in late summer and autumn generally near the snow line, the contrasting black and cream of the plumage making them very noticeable in flight. Of the Buntings the Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) may be mentioned. It seems to be fairly local in distribution and I have only met with it on two or three occasions, always among trees and shrubs a little way below the tree line, though S. B. Wilson* mentions it as occurring on the " lower meadow lands," and Fatio speaks of it as being found up to about 4,000 ft. The Meadow-Pipit (Anthus firatensis) and the Water-Pipit (A. s. spinoletta) are both found up to 9,000 ft.; that is, well above the tree line, which is about 7,000 ft. The latter can be distinguished by its larger size, longer tail, lack of greenish tinge on the back and whiter eye stripe, and seems fonder of perching on trees than A. pratensis. It shows, perhaps, a preference for stream sides, though it by no means restricts itself to them. The Wall-Creeper (Tichodroma muraria) is now very rare in the greater part of Switzerland although it was common twenty or thirty years ago in parts of Graubiinden. It is still found, however, in the National Park, but unfortunately seems to be on the decrease in spite of rigid protection, the cause of its diminution being unknown. Among the Tits the most interesting to the British ornithologist is the Crested Tit (Parus cristatus mitratus). This bird is very common in the pine and larch forests of the Park and is frequently seen in company with other Tits, especially Great and Coal Tits (P. m. major and P. a. ater) as well as with the Golden-crested Wren (Regulus r.regulns) and the Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris macrodactyla). In the high treeless valleys the Wheatear {(Enanthe ce. asnanthe) is common and apparently takes advantage of the enormous number of grasshoppers to be found in such localities, as I have watched a bird taking short flights from the ground twisting and turning very dexterously in the attempt to catch them. As far as I have been able to ascertain this is an hitherto unrecorded article of diet for the species, although, from the truly prodigious number of grasshoppers * Ibis, 1887, p. 131.

4 VOL. xvn.] SWISS NATIONAL PARK 163 occurring in many parts of the Alps one would think that it must be a frequent one. The Black Redstart (Pkasnicurus ochrurus gibraltariensis) is another common inhabitant of these upland valleys, but it does not seem to go to quite as great an altitude as the Wheatear. The handsome black-breasted male is a very conspicu- SWISS NATIONAL PARK: VAL CLUOZA AND PIZ DEL DIAVEL. {Photographed by W. H. Thorpe.) ous bird, the females and juveniles with their delicate browngrey upper parts being equally beautiful though less striking. Where chalets are available they generally seem to choose them for nesting purposes and in late July and early August are to be seen continually flying to and fro to their nests in the crannies in the walls or under the eaves, every now and

164 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. xvn. then stopping to utter their short characteristic song from some favourite stone on the roof. The Alpine Accentor (Prunella c.

5 164 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. xvn. then stopping to utter their short characteristic song from some favourite stone on the roof. The Alpine Accentor (Prunella c. collaris) is to be found on bare rocks and screes not far below the snow line, though it is easily overlooked owing to its unobtrusive habits and harmonization with its surroundings. Of the birds of prey the Lammergeier (Gypaitus barbatus) has long been extinct as a breeding bird in Switzerland, though it was reported many times between 1890 and 1900 in the district in which the National Park has since been established. The chief bird of prey now to be found in the Park is the Golden Eagle (Aquila c. chrysaetus). This bird, though rare in the greater part of Switzerland, is more frequent in Graubiinden, especially in the region of the National Park, there being several eyries within the boundaries of the Park. While there I had the great good fortune to see nine Eagles in the air at the same moment, a truly magnificent sight, showing the rapid effect of strict protection. The eyries in the Park are all, according to Brunies, situated between six and seven thousand feet up, the bird itself, however, being a species characteristic of the highest region. One eyrie of which I had a close view was situated on an overhung ledge on the face of a cliff at an altitude of about 6,300 ft., although one could approach within a short distance of it along a ledge on a level with the nest but separated from it by a cleft. Another eyrie was seen at about the same height. Of the other birds of prey of the Park may be mentioned the Common Buzzard (Buteo b. buteo), frequent in the wilder parts of Switzerland ; and the Goshawk (Accipiter g. gentilis). The latter I have only met. with on two or three occasions. The Eagle Owl (Bubo b. bubo), now very rare in Switzerland, still breeds in some parts of the Park although I did not have the good luck to see it. Finally, among the Game birds, the effect of protection is already very marked. The Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) which was formerly very rare in the district is 4 now reported to be steadily on the increase, while Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutits) are very plentiful on suitable ground at an altitude of about 7,500 to 8,500 ft. The Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) generally considered a bird of the lower forests Dresser says up to 3,000 ft. in the Caucasus occurs in the Park as high as 6,000 ft,

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