Part 3

Nest: The Downy Woodpecker makes his own home. He uses his beak for a chisel and for a pick, and digs away at some hollow tree stump making a neat little round hole that leads to a cavity wherein the white eggs are laid. By way of a bed for these eggs the Woodpecker uses a few soft chips. These same holes are often used the next season by some little Chickadee who is only too glad to take advantage of his opportunity.

Song: In addition to tapping or drumming upon a hollow stump, thus making a noise like a tiny drummer, the Downy Woodpecker also has a sort of song. The notes are rather business-like and come through the woods industriously,--in rapid succession--_peek-peek-peek!_ Sometimes, especially when interrupted, the notes may sound like _chink-chink-chink!_

Remarks: In the winter time the Downy Woodpecker leads a rather solitary life flying about in the woods, searching here and there, calling now and then, and patiently waiting for the return of Spring. In the Spring, however, when the mating season comes again, the Downy takes a new interest in life, becomes more active and generally shows himself to be very well aware of the fact that soon he must expect to work upon his new home. It is at this time that the call note _peek-peek-peek!_ comes more sharply than ever.

THE STARLING

Like the English Sparrow, the Common Starling has become a Naturalized American Citizen. He was introduced from Europe in 1890, when sixty of his kind were released in Central Park, New York City. He is a very permanent resident wherever he has spread, and, because of the fact that he often ousts local or native birds, he is somewhat objectionable.

Song: The song of the Starling has many attractive notes. The whistles are especially appreciated by city dwellers who seldom hear the songs of more gifted birds. An indescribable jumble of notes characterizes the remainder of the Starling's musical efforts. William H. Hudson has written a very good description of this bird's song--"His merit lies less in the quality of the sounds he utters than in their endless variety. In a leisurely way he will sometimes ramble on for an hour, whistling and warbling very agreeably, mingling his finer notes with chatterings, squealings and sounds as of snapping the fingers."

Nest: The Starling will build in crevices of buildings, in hollow trees or in bird houses erected for the use of other birds. The nesting material consists of grasses, straw, twigs and other available material. The eggs, four to six in number, are of a pale bluish color.

Food: The Starling eats a great number of insects. Cultivated cherries, unfortunately, also, are very well liked by the bird who feeds upon them quite often during the breeding season.

Remarks: The plumage of the male Starling is quite beautiful. It is of an irridescent, metallic color in the spring and summer. In the winter, a brownish gray obscures the more brilliant colors. The bill of the bird is yellow in summer, but dark horn-color in winter.

JUNCO

The slate-colored Junco comes down from the North to spend the winter in a more moderate climate. He may be first seen toward the last of September. The departure for the North is made about the first of May. They are certainly welcome visitors, coming as they do when most of our smaller birds have gone on further South. In small flocks, these plump little birds hop and fly, here and there, over the snow, searching for weed seeds and other food.

Song: The notes that are more frequently heard are sharp little "_tsips_" given rather as a call note than as a song. The true music or regular song of the Junco is a decidedly musical trill. Sometimes, when disturbed, the birds will utter a short "_smack!_" and fly to some other place where they may be uninterrupted in their hunting.

Markings: The Junco is a very trim little bird, with a somewhat stylish appearance. He is quite plump and has a covering of neat slate color above and upon the throat in a "bib" formation. The belly is white. Two very conspicuous white outer tail feathers are the most striking identification marks.

Bill: This bird is a member of the Sparrow family. He has a thick, pointed little bill that is of great service in crushing seeds. When the sun shines directly through this bill, a flesh-colored pink is shown.

Nest: The Junco nests from northern New York and New England, northward. The nest is made of fine rootlets, grasses, and moss, interwoven and built upon the ground or just above in small bushes, and lined with hairs.

Remarks: The sociability of the Junco is mainly responsible for his traveling in small flocks during the winter time. Crumbs and similar foods are greatly welcomed by this bird, who will often come quite near to human homes if sufficiently invited. The flash of white and gray is a welcome sight as a small band of these birds comes flying into the garden when the clouds above are heavy and gray with oncoming snow. It is at this time that we most appreciate their company.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW

The English Sparrow is most often referred to as a pest. It is a permanent resident in more senses than one. It was in 1851 and 1852 at Brooklyn, New York, that the small bird was first introduced. During the first 20 years or so it was mostly confined to the larger cities in the east. However, due to the bird's rapid increase it has spread throughout every State in the Union and has proved itself to be truly a great nuisance. Native birds have been driven from their homes and have been robbed of much of their food and many of their nesting sites.

Song: The English Sparrow has no true song, but rather is content to call _Chirp--Chirp--Chirp--Chirp!_ over and over again. Sometimes, in the larger cities such as New York, far from the parks where no other birds would probably be, the hardy little Sparrow is welcomed by the children to whom, without him, bird life would be entirely a closed book. Thus it is that the _chirp-chirp-chirp!_ is not unwelcome everywhere.

Nest: Dr. Frank M. Chapman has said that the English Sparrow builds its nest of any available material, in any available place. Behind window shutters, in upturned eave spouts and gutters, beneath roofs, in holes in trees and in almost every conceivable place, this bird makes its home. The eggs, four to seven in number, vary greatly in coloration. Sometimes they are plain white, sometimes almost completely colored with olive brown. They are often marked with olive.

Remarks: Even though this little bird is truly a pest it seems a shame to criticize him in too harsh terms. After all, it is not his fault that he was brought to a country whose climate and general living conditions proved to be exactly what he wanted. He has thrived because his adopted habitat has proved to be ideal. Let us not confuse this bird in any way with our truly native sparrows whose habits are so entirely different from this little English Colonist. The names of some of our North American birds of the same family are the field sparrow, the song sparrow, the vesper sparrow and many others whose lives, unfortunately, are not nearly so well known.

SCARLET TANAGER

The Tanagers do not winter north of the Mexican border. In the summer there are four species that occur in the United States, only two of which inhabit this section of the country. The Scarlet Tanager is one of the most common of these. He arrives early in May and departs early in October. These beautiful birds are not often seen unless we look up into the trees. The male bird, with his truly startling colors, is a sight to remember. The wings and tail are a jet black and the rest of the body is a remarkable scarlet. The female is more modestly marked with olive.

Song: The song of the Scarlet Tanager resembles that of a Robin, but is much more throaty or buzzy,--causing one to think of a Robin singing with a cold in his syrinx. John Burroughs has referred to it as a "proud gorgeous strain." The tones have a truly "proud" quality, and well express the feelings of one who would like to lie idle in the woods to fully enjoy the content and peace of a warm spring day. They suggest the quiet of a _tired_ bumblebee droning his way homeward at the end of a hard day's work. The call note has been represented as "_Chip-churr--chip-churr_."

Nest: The nest of this bird is made of stems, rootlets, and strips of bark. It is sometimes quite loosely constructed and is placed upon the outspreading limb of a tree sometimes as high as forty feet. The eggs, three to five in number, are of a greenish blue blotched with a chestnut color.

Food: The Scarlet Tanager destroys numerous harmful insects and is for this reason a very beneficial bird. Click-beetles, crane-flies, weevils and numerous caterpillars form a large part of his diet. The Tanager also eats some vegetable food such as small fruits, berries and the seeds of plants, most of which are wild.

Remarks: The male Summer Tanager, which is another species, is of dull red above and a vermilion beneath. The female of this relation of the Scarlet Tanager is of a yellowish green above with a dull yellow upon the underside.

These Tanagers are truly tropical in their appearance. They are animated touches of color that seem somehow to be foreign to our Northern woods.

RED-EYED VIREO

Except for the Catbird, the most talkative bird that we know is the Red-eyed Vireo. He is first to be seen in late April. When October has come, the Red-eye travels Southward. All through the warm days of spring and summer, this persistent little bird sings and sings. Mr. Wilson Flagg has called him "The Preacher Bird." This title is indeed well earned for he seems to say, over and over--"You see me--I see you--do you hear me? Do you believe me?"

Nest: The pendant nest of the Red-eyed Vireo hangs from a forked branch. It is made of small bits of dead wood, plant down, paper and strips of thin bark all very neatly interwoven to form a tiny bird basket. The eggs, three to four in number, are of a white color with a few specks of brown or umber upon the larger end. Frequently the Cowbird leaves her egg in this little bird's nest. This poem by Faith C. Lee, in _Bird-Lore_, gives one person's opinion of the Cowbird.

_Red-Eyed Vireo_ "When overhead you hear a bird Who talks, or rather chatters, Of all the latest woodland news, And other trivial matters, Who is so kind, so very kind, She never can say no. And so the nasty Cowbird Drops an egg among her row Of neat white eggs. Behold her then, The Red-eyed Vireo!"

Markings: The trim little crown of the Red-eyed Vireo is of gray color, bordered upon either side by a neat little band of black. The eye of the bird is brick-red with a white line directly above.

Food: Although this bird is not a member of the family of Warblers, his habits are somewhat similar. Insect food is found in the trees, shrubs, and bushes.

Mabel Osgood Wright has referred to the Red-eyed Vireo as a bird of the mid-day. In her children's poem of nine stanzas, entitled "The Birds and the Hours," she says:

_Noon_ "Who is the Bird of the middle day? The green-winged, red-eyed Vireo gay, Who talks and preaches, yet keeps an eye On every stranger who passes by."

The Red-eye has been known to become so tame that persons have stroked a bird upon the back as she sat upon the nest.

THE GOLDFINCH

One of the merriest of all the many birds is the Goldfinch, or "Wild Canary," as he is sometimes called. When winter, with its biting cold and thick snow comes, we still find this cheerful little bird, visiting with its many friends, perhaps perched on some barren branch, twittering its gay little song to any who care to listen. It is during these months that we find he has changed his bright yellow coat for one of olive green. However, he still wears his little black cap as his head covering.

Song: Not only does the Goldfinch resemble the Canary in color, but his singing is quite canary-like, as well. His song is lively, spontaneous and decidedly musical, often described as "_per-chic-o-ree_." It is frequently given as the bird is on the wing. The flight is undulating and as the bird rises in a great upward curve, a clear song, with its wild care-free quality, joyously fills the air.

Nest: The nest of the Goldfinch is sometimes found in low bushes or in trees. It is one of the most beautiful structures that may be seen out-of-doors. Fine grass and moss are used for the exterior, while the very lightest of thistle-down is collected for the soft nest lining. Fortunate, indeed, are the little birds who are reared in this truly silken couch. The eggs, three to six in number, are of a pale, bluish white color.

Remarks: The female Goldfinch is much darker in color. Instead of the black cap and black wings of the male, she is covered with a brownish olive above, and a yellowish white beneath. Indeed, she is much the more modest of the two. This little "Wild Canary," who sings as he flies, is as useful as he is attractive. He eats objectionable weed seeds and other similar food. He is greatly attracted by sun-flower seeds and he would often come very close to our homes if we provided for him. When we see the Goldfinch dipping through the air, and hear his happy "_per-chic-o-ree_," even from a distance we can make no mistake about his identity; for of all the birds that have definite habits, the Goldfinch is most characteristic in his manner of flying.

THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

The only species of Hummingbird that we know in the Northeast is the Ruby-throat. This little whirring jewel comes to us from the South in very early May and departs by the first of October. It is interesting to learn that there are at least five hundred known species of Hummingbirds in the New World. They are found only in North and South America, the greatest numbers being in South America in Ecuador and Columbia, where Dr. Frank M. Chapman writes that they inhabit the Andean regions.

Song: The Ruby-throated Hummingbird utters only a little "squeak" and thus may be said to possess no true song. Mr. F. Schuyler Mathews has said that this note might possibly mean--"Look out now; don't attempt to catch me by the tail while my head is buried in this morning-glory!" The "humming" sound is made by the rapidly beating wings. Indeed, these wings move so rapidly that they are invisible as the bird hovers in mid-air while investigating some flower.

Food: The diet of this Hummingbird consists of tiny insects and also of the nectar of flowers.

Nest: This rare little structure is built upon a horizontal tree limb, quite far from the ground. It is built of the very softest of plant down, covered upon the outside with small bits of lichens and bound to the branch with fibers. This delicate little composition is most difficult to find. Often it is only discovered by accident, perched upon its swaying foundation. The two white eggs, about the size of beans, are incubated and then the two diminutive birds appear in the silken thimble. The entire family could be contained in a spoon.

This little midget with throat of red, That hums through the air like a bee; Is it a bird or a fairy instead, That hovers for mortals to see? Or is it a flower with silvery wing, Content to fly though it never may sing?

On soft summer days, where the Jewel-weed grows, This flash from the Tropics may seem, In its darting and dashing wherever it goes, To be like the thread of a dream That journeys as even a dream may do, To visit the blossoms and taste of the dew.

BIRD GAMES

There are many different games that may be played to add interest to a study of birds. Some of these are adaptable for out-of-doors and some for the class room. One game that has proven itself to be rather popular, is _a game of bird parts_.

Equipment: For equipment it is necessary for the instructor to have either a large colored picture or a real specimen of some bird as the Meadowlark which is rather distinctively marked.

Rules: First the instructor calls the attention of the children to the various parts of the bird as outlined upon the chart in this booklet. He then asks the children to stand and calls out such body parts as the crown, the nape, the throat, and the shoulder asking the children to put their hands quickly on the parts of their bodies that are named. After this brief review the instructor holds up a different bird and points to the different parts such as the yellow nape of the Bobolink, the reddish breast of the Grosbeak and asks the children to name quickly the parts as they are indicated, at the same time placing their hands upon these parts as before. The child who makes a mistake is made to keep his hand where it is, and, by process of elimination, with the use of several birds it is often possible to find one child who has alone been undefeated.

BIRDS' NEST GAME

In order to appreciate what wonderful structures birds' nests really are, it is sometimes helpful to try to build a nest.

Equipment: Let each child gather several handfuls of dried grass, short dead twigs, strips of inner bark, leaves and similar nesting material. These may be brought to the classroom or else the game may be played in the open.

Rules: The instructor should give a brief talk on different types of birds' nests such as the Robins' and Crows'. For this purpose, several real birds' nests as examples would be most useful. The children should be allowed a given time to construct their nests. At the end of this period, it is just barely possible that there may be one nestlike structure in the group. This nest will of course be the winning one. This is one way in which the children may appreciate the true birds' nests.

THE MIGRATIONS OF LOCAL BIRDS

Our local bird life may be divided roughly into two parts: the _Permanent Residents_ and the _Transients_. As Mr. Ludlow Griscom has said "It is idle to look for Warblers in January or Ducks in July." We must know which of our birds are with us all the year and which visit us for a short time. The following is a list that will help us to tell _when_ to look for different birds at different seasons.

A. Permanent Residents.

In general, the birds that are present during the months of November, December, January and February are to be found hereabouts during the entire year. These are the Crow, several of the Owls, the Song Sparrow, the Partridge, etc. However, we also have winter visitors, such as the Kinglets, the Brown Creeper, the Snowbird and others that return to the north during the warm season of the year.

B. Spring Visitors.

1. _March._ During this month a gradual influx of birds is noticed. The following is a list of these bolder visitors.

(Feb. 15 to March 25) Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Red-winged Blackbird Green-winged Teal Kingfisher Phoebe Cowbird Morning Dove Purple Grackle Fox Sparrow Robin Bluebird Wood Duck Killdeer Plover Woodcock

2. _April_ (March 25 to April 12) Pied-billed Grebe Blue-winged Teal Great Blue Heron Wilson's Snipe Piping Plover Osprey Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Vesper Sparrow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Savannah Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Tree Swallow Yellow Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Hermit Thrush

(April 17 to 25) Bittern Black-crowned Night Heron Clapper Rail Virginia Rail Towhee Barn Swallow Blue-headed Vireo Black-and-White Warbler Myrtle Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Louisiana Water Thrush Brown Thrasher

(April 25 to 30) Green Heron Greater Yellowlegs Spotted Sandpiper Broad-winged Hawk Whip-poor-will Chimney Swift Purple Martin Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Rough-winged Swallow Yellow Warbler House Wren

3. _May:_ This is the best month of the year for observation work if a large list of birds is the thing desired. Birds are now coming northward with a rush, the peak of the migration season is reached, and it is possible to see over 100 species in a single day.

(May 2 to 7) Solitary Sandpiper Pigeon Hawk Hummingbird Kingbird Crested Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Grasshopper Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Tanager Warbling Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo White-eyed Vireo Nashville Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Parula Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Prairie Warbler Northern Water-thrush Hooded Warbler Northern Yellow-throat Ovenbird Redstart Catbird Wood Thrush Veery

(May 9 to 12) Acadian Flycatcher Red-eyed Vireo Worm-eating Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Olive-backed Thrush Magnolia Warbler Canadian Warbler

(May 10 to 14) Nighthawk Bobolink White-crowned Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Cape May Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Wilson's Warbler Long-billed Marsh Wren Gray-checked Thrush

(May 15 to 26) Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Wood Pewee Indigo Bunting Cedar Waxwing Olive-sided Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Kentucky Warbler Morning Warbler

4. _June:_ The majority of the local birds are nesting during this month and the others have gone on to breeding grounds further north.

5. _July:_ The breeding and the song seasons are now nearly concluded. The moulting has begun and the woods and fields are quiet in the warm sunlight.

C. AUTUMN TRANSIENTS: Among the first of the birds to leave for the South, the following may be noted:

1. _August_

(August 1 to 30) Great Blue Heron Sora Rail Clive-sided Flycatcher Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Cape May Warbler Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Northern Water Thrush Mourning Warbler Wilson's Warbler Canadian Warbler

2. _September:_ The Southward migration continues.

(September 1 to 10) Nashville Warbler Parula Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Connecticut Warbler

(September 10 to 30) Wilson's Snipe Broad-winged Hawk Pigeon Hawk White-throated Sparrow Palm Warbler Olive-backed Thrush Coot Savannah Sparrow Junco Lincoln's Sparrow