CORNELL 



R\xral School Leaflet 



[FOR BOYS AND GIRLS] 



Published monthly by the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University, from 

 September to May, and entered as second-class matter September 30, 1907, at the post office 

 at Ithaca, New York, under the Act, of Congress of July 16, 1894. L. H. Bailey, Director 



ALICE G. McCLOSKEY and EDWARD M. TUTTLE, Editors 



ARTHUR D. DEAN, C. EDWARD JONES, G. F. WARREN, and C. H. TUCK, Advisers 



Vol.6 



ITHACA, N. Y., NOVEMBER, 1912 



No. 2 



BIRDS 



Alice G. McCloskey 



It does not seem very long since we were all 

 watching the return of the birds as they came north 

 in the springtime. We shared their 

 ^T songs; we shared their happy hours in 

 nest building; we shared the larger life 

 that the presence of birds always gives. 

 During the summer days we listened to 

 the merry notes of the bobolink; the blue bird 

 called in his wonder way; day after day the song 

 sparrow cheered us; the pewee's plaintive note came to 

 us from the tree tops; and the phcebe's shy call lured us 

 to the places that he found most lovesome. Since then we 

 have seen flocks gather and take their flight to sunnier lands. We 

 rejoiced in the fact that all did not go; that here and there in garden 

 and orchard and woodland, however snow-choked, some bird comrades 

 stay, as we do, to take part in the magic of winter. 



Why do birds go south? Almost every boy and girl will answer, 

 " Because it is cold in the north." But that is not the reason. The birds 

 go south because where the sun is warm they will find the food that they 

 need. The birds that remain with us over winter are those that can 

 thrive on the insect life and the seeds found in the winter wood and 

 field. 



I suppose you all know that throughout New York State boys and girls 

 in the public schools will study certain birds this year. What an interest- 

 . ing list we have for the coming months: the oriole, peacock, black-and- 

 white warbler, goldfinch, phcebe, cliff swallow, brown thrasher, grackle, 

 meadow lark, and bald eagle ! Added to these, two winter birds will be 

 studied. You may choose any of the winter birds that you enjoy most, 

 but we are going to suggest that you look for the red-headed woodpecker, 

 69 [933] 



