Chapter II: Part 2

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

3. _October:_ As the insects disappear when the frost arrives, so do
the birds, that need this form of food, go Southward. Thus the weather
is mainly responsible for the date on which the remaining species
leave for the South. An accurate list is hardly possible.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America: Frank M. Chapman. D.
Appleton & Co., New York.

This book is very complete and deals with various phases of bird life.
It is a valuable handbook for teachers.

Handbook of Birds of Western United States: Florence Merriam Bailey.
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

Bird Life: Frank M. Chapman. D. Appleton & Co., New York.

Popular edition with colored plates for teachers and children, alike.

Birds of Village and Field: Florence Merriam Bailey. Houghton Mifflin
Co., Boston. For teachers and children.

Wild Wings: H. K. Job. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. For teachers and
children.

Among the Water Fowl: H. K. Job. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. For
teachers and children.

Birds of Central Park: Ludlow Griscom. American Museum of Natural
History. For teachers and children.

Birds of New York City Region: Ludlow Griscom. American Museum of
Natural History. For teachers.

Birds of New York: (2 volumes). Eaton. New York State Museum.

These large volumes contain very complete descriptions. They are
illustrated with beautiful color plates by Louis Agassiz Fuertes,
which are especially useful to children.

A Guide To the Birds of New England and Eastern New York: Ralph Hoffman.
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. For teachers.

Field Book of Wild Birds and Their Music: F. Schuyler Mathews. G. P.
Putnam's Sons, New York. For teachers and pupils.

The Importance of Bird Life: G. Inness Hartley. The Century Company, New
York. For teachers and pupils.

Birdcraft: Mabel Osgood Wright. Macmillan Company, New York. For
children.

Gray Lady and the Birds: Mabel Osgood Wright. Macmillan Company, New
York. For children.

What Bird is That? Frank M. Chapman. D. Appleton & Co., New York. For
teachers and pupils.

American Birds Photographed and Studied From Life: William L. Finley.
Charles Scribners Sons, New York.

Useful Birds and Their Protection: Edward H. Forbush. Massachusetts
State Board of Agriculture, Boston.

This book contains illustrations of noxious insects and the birds that
feed upon them.

How To Study Birds: Herbert K. Job. Outing Publishing Company.

Bird Houses and How To Build Them: Ned Dearborn. Farmer's Bulletin 609,
Sup't. of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

Attracting Birds about the Home--Bulletin No. 1. National Association of
Audubon Societies, New York City.

AN EARLY MORNING WITH THE BIRDS

"Wild birds change their season in the night.
And wail their way from cloud to cloud
Down the long wind."

One early October morning I lay on the hard-packed ground, longing for the sun to rise. I had slept here all night long that I might see the birds at dawn. Deceived by the warmth of the previous day, I had not brought enough blankets and was therefore exceedingly uncomfortable in the cold breeze.

At the foot of the hill upon which stood my camp, there was a spring-fed pond. 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.

Over the dark, motionless surface of the lake there floated a fog bank, suspended about twenty feet from the surface. More vapor was slowly growing into a gigantic mushroom.

As I watched this increasing filmy mantle, I saw first one and then another gray shape pass into it and disappear, only to emerge again at some other point and vanish in the darkness of the oak-lined shore. At first I could not imagine what these ghost-like shapes were, and then, just as I had about decided that they were the result of a freakish wind playing with stray cloudlets, there came a gruff "quawk, quawk, quawk," taken up by one and then another of the shapes until the place echoed with hoarse cries. I realized that the Black-crowned Night Heron was taking his final morning sail preparatory to going to roost in some nearby tree for the day. Like the owl, he preferred the night for his activities.

Gradually the noise subsided as the Herons settled on various branches. The mist above the pond began to disappear, and the small, shapeless clouds far up in the sky took on a suggestion of color. Now was the time to arise. In a very little while the woods would be filled with flying, feeding birds, and the best time of day for bird observation would be at hand. Yet so cold was I that it was impossible to move a limb. Several times, off to one side, a faint-voiced little White-throated Sparrow gave a feeble imitation of his beautiful spring-and-summer song. It was as though his vocal organs had become less pliant through disuse and exposure to the cold.

What a brave little singer he is, even though his efforts are not always equally repaid. I think it is partially what Hudson would call the "human note" that so endears the White-throat's song to me. There is truly an intimate quality in the first sustained note of his song. But in the final, high and infinitely sweet tones there is a suggestion of a song that is too pure to be voiced by anything that is bound to the earth. Many have been the hot summer days when, tired and pack-weary, I have paused for a moment to rest at some bramble-covered clearing in the deep woods, and that cheery little forest voice of the Peabody bird, coming unexpectedly from some unseen branch, would refresh me as much as a drink at some cool spring. I look forward to his singing from one year to the next.

A massive white oak spread its powerful branches at least one hundred feet above my head. It was a majestic and beautiful living monument to a mighty nature. Some of the topmost limbs seemed to reach up and disappear in the sky, so perfectly did their pale gray bark blend with the early morning light. For some time I listened to the soft rustling of the wind among its myriad drying leaves. Then very subtly from the tree top there came a different sound, which impressed itself upon my consciousness as would the faint perfume of a distant flower bed slowly approached. Gradually it increased until the leafy whispering became almost inaudible, and the air was filled with an indescribable, high-pitched musical breathing. It was as though countless tiny creatures were conversing a great way off.

Turning squarely on my back, I for a moment saw nothing in the leafy midst so far above. As my eyes became more properly focussed, however, they distinguished some small objects of about the same size. My glasses were safely stored in the heel of a large shoe close at hand. Forgetting the chill air, I uncovered my chest and arms long enough to take out the binoculars.

There in the tree top I saw a moving mass of very small birds that were flying from one twig to another with scarcely any pause in their activities. No sooner would one move out of sight than another would come flying into the tree and take his place. The entire gathering was ever going southward. A few of the number came down to the lower branches where their identity could be more readily determined. I realized that I was witnessing the fall migration of a large group of American warblers.

Among the most prominent of the small birds were the female and young Redstarts, who flashed into view many times. The yellow on the outer tail feathers was plainly visible as they sped here and there after any insect that might be about. The Myrtle Warbler, with his four yellow spots on crown, rump, and on each side of his breast, was very largely represented in the tree top. The dainty little Yellow Warbler and the Black-throated Blue were also there. What a multitude they were and what a long fearsome journey they had yet to travel! It would be hard to enumerate all of the various dangers that beset these little birds as they fly mile after mile through the air at night, and more particularly as they rest and feed near the ground during the day.

Even as I watched, a marauding Screech Owl glided overhead on noiseless wings. Instantly the twittering died, only to be recommenced after the Owl had passed quite harmlessly by.

What busy little creatures these birds were! They searched every leaf and let no morsel of food, insect or plant, escape. How well they knew that birds that fly in the night must feast in the daytime. They were with me for about fifteen minutes, and then, as gradually as they had come, so did they pass on until at last not a single one was to be seen.

For some time I lay there trying vainly to warm myself after my warbler exposure. Not a sound was to be heard--even the wind had become silent. Then suddenly there came from not very far a call of "Teacher, Teacher, _Teacher_, TEACHER." Never before or since have I heard the "teacher bird" announce himself so late in the season. He was also on his journey southward. His smaller brother warblers took to the tree tops but he, although of the same family, preferred the ground where he might look among the leaves for choice bits of food. This bird is known by a diversity of names. He is called by many the "oven-bird", due to the Dutch-oven-like structure of his nest; but to me he is, as he was to John Burroughs, the "Teacher Bird."

When I go off alone into the woods I want some sort of "burglar alarm" to warn me of strangers in camp on windless nights. I resort to a very ancient but effective practice. By gathering many armfuls of dry, dead leaves and piling them all about my tent I feel fairly sure that no prowler can take me by surprise. I had provided myself with just such an alarm on this overnight hike, and was made aware by a slight rustling close to my tent that I had a caller of some kind. For a moment I thought it was a gray squirrel, but then the nature of the noise seemed different and I was puzzled as to who my visitor might be.

In a moment I found out. A most beautiful, clean-cut little Wood Thrush came hopping along before my tent. He looked very cold, and for that reason aroused my sympathy at once. His shapely brown head was tucked down between the shoulder blades as far as possible. So cold was he that he did not even look for food, but with no apparent thought as to direction, moved along evidently just to keep warm. It gave me a mental picture of myself as I would be when I arose. My main object would be to get the fire going so as to keep warm; food would come later.

The Thrush passed out of my sight without having paid any attention to me. I thought him gone for all time; but no, in a moment he reappeared and to my intense delight came stalking straight towards the tent, still in the frozen manner.

Suddenly, I am positive, he saw me. His head was taken from between the shoulders, and every part of the bird seemed instantly on the alert. The contrast was startling. Here was a most active and intelligent creature where before had been one that looked remarkably dull and stupid.

Slowly, and with the utmost caution, he advanced until not more than two feet separated us. There he stopped and literally looked me up and down. Not a sound nor a movement did I make, so fearful was I of frightening my guest away. What a remarkably clean white breast he had, and how distinct were the round black spots with which it was speckled! Here was the woodland brother of the Robin and the Bluebird right where I could put my hand on him. After he had become satisfied that I was harmless and was no more interesting than any of the queer-looking fallen logs or rocks of the forest, he turned his back, rather rudely, and left the tent.

It was then that I arose and went about my fire making. If the birds were so anxious to have me see them that they were forced to come into my tent I could no longer refuse them. A hasty breakfast over, I started off into the woods, glasses in hand, in quest of the birds that were calling.

NOTES

Transcriber's Notes

--Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook
is public-domain in the country of publication.

--Silently corrected a few palpable typos.

--Transcribed handwritten in-photo captions.

--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
_underscores_.

End of Project Gutenberg's A Manual of Bird Study, by William H. Carr