I 120 



Rural School Leaflet 



last syllable is at least one note lower than the first, is long drawn out, 

 and has a falling inflection; while the last syllable of the phoebe bird's 

 song is short and has a rising inflection. The chickadee has also a cheer- 

 ful little yodel, which it sings when it is very happy. 



The chickadee builds its nest in a decaying stump or a post, oftcnest 

 in a birch stump, in a hole that the pair of birds excavate, working 

 together industriously. Sometimes a hole already made is used. The 

 bottom is lined with fine grass, feathers, hair, or moss. The eggs, from 

 five to eight in number, are white, speckled sparingly with reddish brown. 

 The nest is made in May. 



The chickadees and the nuthatches may be induced to visit our orchards 



and shade trees if we 

 put out strips of beef 

 fat about once a month 

 during the winter. 

 These strips should be 

 tied to the branches. 

 The birds seem to re- 

 gard this as a sign of 

 friendship on our part, 

 and will remain for 

 hours doing their best 

 to rid the trees near-by 

 of hidden enemies. If 

 the suet is placed on 

 branches that may be 

 seen from the ^\^ndows 



of the schoolroom, the 

 A friendly chickadee m i i i j^ 



pupils may be able to 



observe these interesting and useful birds every day and become familiar 



with their habits and their economic value. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY 



Why does the chickadee remain in the North during the winter? Why 

 do the robin and the bluebird go South? 



Where do you see the chickadees in winter? What are they doing? 



What other birds are associated with the chickadees in winter? What 

 is there in the colors and the markings of the chickadee by which you can 

 tell it instantly from the nuthatch and the douTiy woodpecker? 



Describe the colors of the chickadee as follows: top of head, back, 

 wings, tail, throat, and breast. 



Compare the beak of the chickadee with that of the downy wood- 

 pecker, and tell why each is best adapted to procure food for its owner. 



