12 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



pair of Bluebirds occupy a little Swiss chalet 

 which we have placed on the shelf formed by the 

 eve finish breaking around the corner of our 

 house. When the first brood is ready to fly, they 

 are convoyed to the orchard at the back of the 

 house and cared for by the father, while the 

 mother returns to the nest, lays another clutch 

 of eggs, hatches and rears another brood. In 

 early August the two families unite and we have 

 a fine squad of youngsters about the lawn until 

 autumn is well under way. 



The early comers have their broods well along 

 toward maturity before the latest migrants ar- 

 rive. Early in June young Crackles and Robins, 

 in their short-tailed, spotted coats, may be seen 

 about the parks of Brooklyn. As a rule, how- 

 ever, March arrivals do not begin nest building 

 for several weeks, until weather conditions are 

 more favorable. The Canada Jay nests very 

 early, sometimes in February or March, before 

 the terrible cold of the northern winter has in 

 any degree abated. 



With the later arrivals there is less delay, ex- 

 cept in a few notable cases of which the Cherry- 

 bird and Coldfinch are conspicuous examples. 

 These birds spend the spring and early summer 

 in careless roaming about the country, delaying 

 the domestic duties until the season is well 

 advanced. Sometimes as late as mid-August I 

 find nests of the Cherrybird with eggs. Perhaps 

 this delay is occasioned by the desire of the 

 parents to provide their nestlings with some 

 delicacy that is not earlier available. Who 

 knows ? 



