ROBIN

Ruby-crowned Kinglet—4¼ inches

Our native Robin is not closely related to the bird that the English call “Robin Redbreast.” He is rather a relative of the Bluebird and the Thrush. Before the young of the Robin leave the nest, their breasts are speckled as are the breasts of the Thrushes. After the first moult, this marking disappears. Some of the Robins are with us all through the year. However, only the hardiest of them stay during the Winter. The majority travel to the warmer climates. Those who come to us from the South arrive about the first of March and depart toward the end of October.

Song:“In the sunshine and the rainI hear the robin in the laneSinging. ‘Cheerily,Cheer up, cheer up;Cheerily, Cheerily, Cheerily, Cheer up’.”

Song:

“In the sunshine and the rain

I hear the robin in the lane

Singing. ‘Cheerily,

Cheer up, cheer up;

Cheerily, Cheerily, Cheerily, Cheer up’.”

A writer in “A Masque of Poets” has described the cheer in the Robin’s song very well. Robin music has real melody and expression. Indeed, there are very few of our birds that have what might be called as great a vocabulary, or as many expressive notes, as has this familiar bird.

Nest:The nest of the Robin is built of grasses, rootlets and leaves. The interior is well lined or plastered with a layer of mud. Another layer of fine grass forms the bed upon which the greenish blue eggs are laid. These eggs are from three to five in number. Robins often raise two families each year. 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. Often, the worm breaks in two and the Robin, suddenly and most unexpectedly, tumbles over backward. The Robin seems to “Listen” for the worm as he walks and hops over the lawn in the early morning.

Song:The song of the Robin in early Spring tells us that warm weather is not far off. We look for his brick red breast and watch him as he feeds about our lawns and gardens.

The Robin—10 inches

Early in March, the male Redwing arrives. It is not until two or three weeks later that the female comes from the south to join his company and to sail about over the cat-tails of the marsh. When August has gone by, the adult Blackbirds are seldom seen. It is in July that the young and old birds congregate in large flocks to prepare themselves for the journey southward. Red-winged Blackbirds from farther north may be seen as late as October.

Markings: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. It is at this time, especially, that the marshland is fairly alive with the rich reed-like song that repeats—“Conk-a-ree”—“Conk-a-ree”—“Conk-a-ree”!

Nest:The nest of this bird is woven of grasses, weed-stalks and rootlets. Sometimes it is built in a friendly, compact mass of cat-tail, and other nests may be seen in low bushes or tussocks. These Redwings do not welcome visitors to their nesting sites. They raise very strenuous objections, and, in their attempt to drive away the intruder, bird, beast or man, they will fly very near, scolding in harsh tones the meanwhile.

Eggs:The eggs of the Red-winged Blackbirds are truly unusual in their markings. They are of a pale blue ground, or base color, and are often scrawled over with a dark purple or black. They appear to have been stepped upon by a bird that has first dipped its toes in a bottle of ink. These eggs are from three to five in number.

The Red-winged Blackbird—9½ inches

“How comes it, Oriole, thou hast come to flyIn tropic splendor through our northern sky?”

“How comes it, Oriole, thou hast come to fly

In tropic splendor through our northern sky?”

Edgar Fawcett asks this question in his poem. Who is there that may answer him? The Baltimore Oriole comes to us in early May and stays until about the first of September. This bird, sometimes called the Golden Robin, is a namesake of George Calvert, or Lord Baltimore, who was the first proprietor of Maryland. Indeed, he does seem “golden” as he flashes about among green leaves. However, he is a relation of the blackbirds, rather than of the robins.

Colors:The brilliant orange and black feathers of the Oriole are the marks by which the bird may be identified. The head, shoulders and neck, and the upper section of the back are of a gleaming black. The breast is of a bright orange, sometimes almost golden in its color.

Song:A loud, sometimes bold, whistle from the top of a sweeping elm tree often announces the presence of the Baltimore Oriole. He is a fine songster of considerable ability. His song is characterized by a richness that gives a truly musical quality to his efforts.

The same poet asks further:

“At some glad moment was it Nature’s choice and charmTo dower a scrap of sunset with a voice?”

“At some glad moment was it Nature’s choice and charm

To dower a scrap of sunset with a voice?”

Nest:The beautiful hanging nest of the Baltimore Oriole is often suspended from the end of the branch of some shade tree, where it sways with every passing breeze. It is composed of hair, strings, grasses, bark lining and other similar materials all closely interwoven with the greatest of skill. The eggs, four to six in number, are of a white color marked with wavy blackish lines and spots. This bird has been known to make very good use of yarn, string, and even strips of cloth, placed where they might easily be found and woven into the nest. Some nests built almost entirely of string have been found.

The Baltimore Oriole—7½ inches

The sociable personality of the Chipping Sparrow enables the bird student to make his close acquaintance. He is a little bird of modest habits, who shows his trust in the human race by living very near to the homes of man. In early April “Chippy” arrives. He leaves for the South about the first of November.

Song:“Chippy—Chippy—Chippy” is all this small Sparrow has to say. Certainly, this is not an especially attractive song, and yet it is very much in keeping with the unassuming disposition of the bird. It could scarcely be called a song. It is an extremely high pitched note with very little musical quality. Nevertheless, somewhat monotonous though the songs may be, they seem to have a peculiarly friendly air, that, at times, is very welcome.

Food: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.

Nest:The nest of the Chipping Sparrow is built in bushes, shrubs, trees, or in the old vines that grow about country houses. The nest is lined with long hairs. One often wonders where the bird finds so many of them. Grass and fine twigs are used for the main construction of the home.

Remarks:The little chestnut cap of the Chipping Sparrow is perhaps his most noticeable marking. By this, and by his small size, he may be readily identified. He is sometimes called the “Least” Sparrow. Like some other members of the Sparrow family, he sometimes awakes in the middle of the night and bursts into song.

The Chipping Sparrow or “Chippy”—5¼ inches

This bird of the fields may be seen during every month of the year. After walking among the grasses, it may suddenly fly up and may be identified by the conspicuous white outer tail feathers which flash in the sunlight.

Field Marks:The black crescent upon the yellow breast of the Meadowlark is a fine field mark. In the early morning, when a rising sun shines upon the open meadows, this bright yellow patch seems to be, in itself, a reflected spot of golden light. In winter, a brownish tone, more like the dried swamp grasses, covers the plumage.

Food:Insects form the major portion of food for this guardian of the hay fields. 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. Sometimes this song comes from the air. Its clear notes may be heard all through the year.

Spring o’ the YearThe Meadowlark’s song is “Spring o’ the year,”As he flies o’er fields of hay;He sings of his toil and not of the cheerThat lies in a land far away.

Spring o’ the Year

The Meadowlark’s song is “Spring o’ the year,”

As he flies o’er fields of hay;

He sings of his toil and not of the cheer

That lies in a land far away.

Remarks:The protective coloration of the Meadowlark is of great help to the bird. The soft brown and ground colors aid it in escaping such enemies as Hawks and other preying creatures. To a soaring bird of prey, the Meadowlark must seem to be only a section of the ground upon which it walks.

The Meadowlark—10¾ inches

The Blue Jay is closely related to the Crow. He shows this relationship in a number of ways. He is very intelligent, has a keen sense of humor and is an observer of birds and men. All the year long he makes himself known to us by his striking plumage, loud voice, and active body. During the nesting season, however, he is comparatively quiet and we see little of him.

Food:During eight or nine months of the year the Blue Jay earns an honest living. He eats many harmful insects, frogs, snails, and even small fish and mice. In the breeding season, however, the Jay sometimes turns robber and has been known to steal the young of other birds. Nevertheless the Jay is a likable creature, and probably before human beings came to disturb him he was not quite so much of a nuisance to other birds as he is now.

Song:The clearly whistled note of this bird proclaims the nameJay!—Jay!—Jay!in loud, harsh, ringing notes. Sometimes the song is quite pleasing with a bell-like quality. Some think that when the Jay calls he saysThief! Thief! Thief!

Nest:The Blue Jay often constructs his nest in a convenient crotch of a tree. It is built of twigs quite strongly interwoven. The lining is of leaflets. The inside of the nest is not by any means soft. The pale olive brown or green eggs sprinkled with brownish are from four to six in number.

Remarks:It is in the winter time that we really know the Jay in motion. When the snow is on the ground and the woods and fields are quiet it seems a fine thing to see dashing through the branches, calling again and again, a bright bluish bird who gives an entirely different atmosphere to the outdoors. 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?

The Bluejay—11½ inches

This little member of the Woodpecker family is a permanent resident with us. 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. Thus when the Downy Woodpecker is searching for food, he may be seen upon the tree trunks or even hanging beneath branches pecking away, excavating and digging. To name the injurious insects that form this Woodpecker’s diet would take a long list. “Every stroke with which he knocks at the door of an insect’s retreat sounds the crack of doom. He pierces the bark with his beak, then with his barbed tongue drags forth an insect, and moves on to tap a last summons on the door of the next in line.”

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 likechink-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 notepeek-peek-peek!comes more sharply than ever.

Downy Woodpecker—6 inches

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.

Starling—8½ inches

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 Junco—6¾ inches

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 callChirp—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 thechirp-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.

The English Sparrow

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 atiredbumblebee 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.

The Scarlet Tanager—7½ inches

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, inBird-Lore, gives one person’s opinion of the Cowbird.

Red-Eyed Vireo“When overhead you hear a birdWho 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 CowbirdDrops an egg among her rowOf neat white eggs. Behold her then,The Red-eyed Vireo!”

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:

The Red-eyed Vireo—6 inches

Noon“Who is the Bird of the middle day?The green-winged, red-eyed Vireo gay,Who talks and preaches, yet keeps an eyeOn every stranger who passes by.”

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.

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.

Goldfinch—5¼ inches

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?

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 dreamThat journeys as even a dream may do,To visit the blossoms and taste of the dew.

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.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds—3½ inchesMale above, female below

Common Pigeon

Red Crossbill

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, isa 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.

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.

Our local bird life may be divided roughly into two parts: thePermanent Residentsand theTransients. 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 tellwhento 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)MeadowlarkRusty BlackbirdRed-winged BlackbirdGreen-winged TealKingfisherPhoebeCowbirdMorning DovePurple GrackleFox SparrowRobinBluebirdWood DuckKilldeer PloverWoodcock

(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 GrebeBlue-winged TealGreat Blue HeronWilson’s SnipePiping PloverOspreyYellow-bellied SapsuckerVesper SparrowRuby-crowned KingletSavannah SparrowWhite-throated SparrowChipping SparrowField SparrowSwamp SparrowTree SwallowYellow Palm WarblerPine WarblerHermit Thrush

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)BitternBlack-crowned Night HeronClapper RailVirginia RailTowheeBarn SwallowBlue-headed VireoBlack-and-White WarblerMyrtle WarblerBlack-throated Green WarblerLouisiana Water ThrushBrown Thrasher

(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 HeronGreater YellowlegsSpotted SandpiperBroad-winged HawkWhip-poor-willChimney SwiftPurple MartinCliff SwallowBank SwallowRough-winged SwallowYellow WarblerHouse Wren

(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 SandpiperPigeon HawkHummingbirdKingbirdCrested FlycatcherLeast FlycatcherBaltimore OrioleOrchard OrioleGrasshopper SparrowRose-breasted GrosbeakTanagerWarbling VireoYellow-throated VireoWhite-eyed VireoNashville WarblerBlue-winged WarblerParula WarblerBlack-throated Blue WarblerChestnut-sided WarblerPrairie WarblerNorthern Water-thrushHooded WarblerNorthern Yellow-throatOvenbirdRedstartCatbirdWood ThrushVeery

(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 FlycatcherRed-eyed VireoWorm-eating WarblerBlackburnian WarblerYellow-breasted ChatOlive-backed ThrushMagnolia WarblerCanadian Warbler

(May 9 to 12)

Acadian Flycatcher

Red-eyed Vireo

Worm-eating Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Yellow-breasted Chat

Olive-backed Thrush

Magnolia Warbler

Canadian Warbler

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