1 8 American Birds 



out of her own house? Well, I should say not! Finally 

 I cut a piece right out of the back part of her house, 

 where the wall was thin. There she sat without moving, 

 while I focused my camera. The little black eyes showed 

 a brave spirit that I have seldom seen in a bird. I care- 

 fully slid the piece back again and locked it with a string. 



I knew she had done a heroic deed. I sat down under 

 the tree to watch. As soon as all was quiet, she shot from 

 the door like a winged bullet and struck right on the limb 

 beside her mate who had been dee-dee-ing to her all the 

 while. Of course, birds do not feel as we feel, but I don't 

 believe a sweetheart ever met her lover returning from a 

 field of battle with a greater show of joy. They simply 

 threw themselves into each other's arms. It wasn't a silent 

 meeting either; there were real cracks of kisses and twit- 

 ters of praise. Chickadees are not human by any means, 

 but had she not defended her home all alone against a 

 giant? 



A day or so later, I really did catch both the owners 

 away from the nest and I counted one — two — three — four 

 — five — six — seven dotted eggs on a cottony couch. When 

 the mother returned she seemed so worried that I closed 

 the door and started to leave in a hurry. But I hadn't 

 stepped away more than ten feet before she was clinging 

 at the doorway, and a moment later she popped into the 

 hole and continued her brooding. 



What if every egg should hatch, I thought. What 

 could any mother and father do with seven children, all 

 the same age? Think of it! Two pair of twins and a 

 set of triplets, and not one of the youngsters able to assist 

 in caring for brother or sister! 



