Rural School Leaflet 1115 



Even if there are no winter birds in sight, it will be worth while to 

 make an effort to see one. After the boys and girls have taken a few 

 deep breaths in the keen air, they will be ready to go back into the 

 schoolroom to discuss the birds that may appear in the months to come. 

 A list of birds that children have seen in winter should be placed on 

 the blackboard. Doubtless many of the following will be mentioned: 



Crow Downy woodpecker 



Tree sparrow Hairy woodpecker 



Kinglet Blue jay 



Winter wren Flicker 



Longspur Nuthatch 



Junco Chickadee 



Crossbill Owl 



Red poll Shrike 



Snow bunting Gull 



A few facts that the children know as to color, habits, and the like, 

 in connection with the birds listed might be of interest. Then each of 

 the older boys and girls may be asked to select one of these birds for 

 special study, so that if the bird should come into the neighborhood the 

 class will be able to obtain information quickly from the young investigator. 

 The result will be that each child will know some one winter bird well 

 and this makes the best beginning for bird study. The children will 

 learn to consult reference books and to be on the lookout for verification 

 of the facts obtained by observation. A copy of " Bird Neighbors " 

 will be a source of pleasure and profit in this work. It is published by 

 Doubleday, Page & Co., price $2. 



In order to give spirit to the work, the teacher might announce that she 

 is going to be on the watch for the following birds : red-headed woodpecker, 

 downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, nuthatch, chickadee, and crow. 

 She might ask the boys and girls to help her in collecting information 

 about these birds. Perhaps a pupil who may have selected one of them 

 for special study will write some of his observations in the notebook that 

 the teacher is preparing for her bird record. When occasion offers, some 

 important facts in connection with the teacher's group of birds for study 

 might be discussed. Following are brief field descriptions that will help: 



The red-headed woodpecker is about the size of a robin. He has the 

 long woodpecker bill, a handsome blue-black and white coat, and a 

 brilliant red head. The fore breast and neck are red. 



The downy woodpecker is a little larger than an English sparrow. Black 

 and white above, white below; white along the middle of the back. The 

 male has a scarlet band on the nape. 



