William H. Carr

“ 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. ”

“ There are two varieties of Kinglets in this section of the country, the Golden-crowned and the Ruby-crowned. Both members of the family are beautiful little birds that visit us in autumn and depart in the spring. They are not with us during the warmer months. In the coldest time of the year these little, restless wanderers among the trees may be seen and heard. Except for the Humming-bird and the Winter Wren, the Kinglets are the smallest birds that we have. ”

“ The young of the first brood leave the nest toward the first of July.
Food: In June and July, Robins feed to some extent upon berries and similar fruits. However, what little harm they may do in this way is vastly offset by the good that is done during the rest of the year. The Robins are gleaners of insects. They eat great quantities of beetles and their grubs, grasshoppers, crickets, ants and other plant pests. One of the most comical sights of bird feeding is to see a large, round, healthy Robin struggle to pull a resisting, equally healthy, earthworm from its hole in the ground. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ In the field, you cannot run up to a wild bird and measure it with a ruler, but what you can do is to compare it in size with some other bird that you do know. Compare the unknown bird with an English Sparrow which is about 6 inches long, a Robin about 10 and a Crow 19 inches long. ”

“ Sow-bugs, weevils, grasshoppers, ticks, plant-lice and other enemies of the farmer all fall prey to the pointed, searching beak.
Nest: The beautiful little nest, sometimes arched over, is built of dry grass. It lies hidden upon the ground, often defying the keenest of eyes of hawk and man alike. The eggs are white, speckled with a reddish brown color. They may number from four to six.
Song: The music of this ground bird is somewhat sad. A slurred whistle, rising from the grass in spring and early summer, tells of the hiding place of the Meadowlark, singing in a plaintive minor key. ”

“ The Starlings and the English Sparrows have driven them from many former nesting sites.
Food: The Bluebird eats many insects, including beetles, grasshoppers and different kinds of caterpillars. He also often feeds upon such fruits as cedar berries, wild cherries and those of other wild plants.
Bill: The bill of this bird is much like that of the Robin and the Thrushes. These birds are very closely related.
Feet: Being a typical perching bird, the Bluebird has very well developed feet. The hind toe is larger than any of the front ones and is of great value in grasping a twig or larger branch. ”

“ Remember that if a bird were seen without feathers, it would look quite a bit like any other animal. The next time you have a chicken after the feathers have been removed, look at it closely. The wings look like arms, and as a matter of fact, they have three “fingers,” which may be easily seen. The bird has a crown on its head; he has “cheeks,” a breast, a throat, a belly, and a rump as well as other external or outside parts. Do not say that you saw a bird that was “black and white and brown all over.” No one could tell you what sort of a bird that was. ”

“ Tail: The tail of the Barn Swallow is deeply forked. When perched, these long protruding outer tail feathers serve to distinguish the Barn Swallow from all other native Swallows.
Song: The gentle twitter of the Barn Swallow is a familiar sound about many a farm where an old barn or other outbuilding may provide a nesting site. It is a musical sound that changes to a “kit-tic—kit-tic” when the bird becomes excited.
Nest: The cup-shaped nest of the Barn Swallow is made of mud and is lined with grass and feathers. ”

“ 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. ”

“ We may help birds to live by giving them drinking places and bird baths in the Summer, and food tables in the Winter. We can help by not going near birds’ nests and by not harming birds in any manner. ”

“ The male Red-winged Blackbird is of a faultless glossy black with shoulder patches, or epaulets, of a bright scarlet, edged with gold. His mate is of a more sober appearance—streaked with modest brown.
Song: Henry D. Thoreau described the Red-winged Blackbird’s song as—“Chonk-a-ree.” These free, truly bubbling notes are given again and again as the birds go about their everyday tasks in the Spring. The arrival of the females, however, is perhaps the signal for the greatest singing effort on the part of the males. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The Song Sparrow is a member of a very large family. His near relations are found in many regions of the earth. In winter, fall and spring, he is with us to represent his kind, and a fine representative he is, with his good spirits and ever-ready song. ”

“ All the year through he is to be seen busily engaged in his life work, which is a constant search for food. The Downy Woodpecker may be distinguished from the Hairy Woodpecker mainly by its smaller size and by its outer tail feathers which are barred with black.
Food: The food of nearly all Woodpeckers consists of insect material that is found on or within the bark of trees. ”

“ Food: Sometimes in walks out-of-doors we may come upon small, gray colored pellets made of hair and tiny bones. Very often, these have been ejected by the Screech Owl, who is able to digest the flesh of his prey but not the skeleton and the outer covering. This beneficial night flier feeds upon mice and other creatures. His sharp, hooked beak is adapted to tearing food and his rather long and pointed little talons are of great use in grasping it. ”

“ Injurious insects are eaten in large quantities by the Chipping Sparrows. Beetles, grasshoppers and other similar insects are the prey of this bird. Many different types of seeds constitute the rest of the diet. “Chippy” will readily accept human hospitality whenever crumbs are scattered, provided, of course, that the English Sparrow does not arrive at the feeding station first. ”

“ Dammed at one end, it comfortably filled the head of a small valley. Leading from it was a broad, grassy tidal flat that receded from the visible Long Island Sound. To shore birds this marshy place was an ideal feeding spot. ”

“ Goldfinch—51⁄4 inches
62 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. ”

“ Feathers help to keep the bird warm. With the aid of feathers the bird flies.
What Other Creature is Able to Fly Without the Aid of Feathers? The bat can fly upon wings of thin skin.
What are the Names of Some Birds that are Noted for Their Ability to Swim, Fly, Creep, and Walk? The Bald Eagle and the Condor are both birds that are very strong fliers. Can you name any others? The ducks are at home in the water. Can you name any other birds that are able to swim with ease? The little Brown Creeper and many other birds are very happy in their ability to creep up and to climb trees. ”

“ The Phoebe, a Flycatcher—7 inches
16 THE BARN SWALLOW
The Barn Swallows arrive in the North toward the end of April and leave early in September. They are sociable birds and travel in huge flocks.
Food: Insects, caught upon the wing, form the diet of those Swallows. They dart here and there, over field and water, catching their prey in swift, graceful flight.
Feet: Often, in the season of migration, thousands of Swallows perch upon telephone wires, sometimes in such large numbers that the wires are broken. Their small feet are well suited for this, but not for walking upon the ground. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Was the bird eating berries, insects, seeds? How was this food secured?
Mating: Every bird has certain courtship habits. Note these antics.
Nesting: Observe the choice of nesting site, the materials used in the nests, such as mud, grass, leaves, and so on. Notice the construction, the number and the color of the eggs; and the incubation period, or the length of time the eggs take to 11 hatch; and above all things, do not in any way disturb any bird’s nest.
The Young: Watch and learn what food the young ones are given by the parents; how they are cared for; the time they remain in the nest ”

“ 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. ”

“ Often no color is visible upon the head except the uniform olive or greenish tinge. However, when the bird is excited, the crest is raised and it is then that the color of the crown may be very well seen.
Habits: The Kinglets are friendly birds that often come very near. They seem to be much more tame than the warblers.
Food: A constant search for tiny insects occupies the time of the Kinglets.
Song: The Ruby-crown is the superior singer of the two. His song consists of a loud, clear warble, interrupted here and there with a wren-like chatter. ”

“ Teachers are urged, whenever possible, to bring their classes to the American Museum of Natural History, at 77th Street and Central Park West, to take advantage of the opportunities for further study that are offered. In the many halls of birds and animals, the home life and the general habitat of the creatures are given in detail. ”

“ It is sometimes helpful to study birds by the “Question and Answer” method. The following questions are written to suggest others of a similar nature.
What is a Bird? A bird is an animal that has feathers. No other animal has feathers. ”

“ Being something of a mimic, he sometimes takes delight in imitating the songs of such birds as the Red-shouldered Hawk and other songs that have a similar ring. He has been called a reprobate, but, despite his bad habits, who is there that does not appreciate his vivacity and ever-active personality? ”

“ 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. ”

“ Birds are to be found in almost “every corner of the earth.” Their study has a world wide interest and appeal. The following list is intended to serve as an aid in bringing to mind subjects that may be developed out-of-doors, or studied in the class room. ”