102 B IRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



do not need to be, as the receptacle itself fur- 

 nishes much protection for the brood. In fact 

 the nest is merely a bunch of dried grass, loosely- 

 put together. The five or six pale blue eggs 

 are quickly laid, and in about twelve days the 

 nestlings are hatched. The young remain in 

 the nest about two weeks, then make their first 

 venture into the world clad in their fuzzy, 

 short-tailed suits of spotted blue and light. 



Both parents take part in building the nest 

 and caring for the young. Usually the male 

 t^kes charge of the first brood, leading them to 

 some secure feeding ground while the indus- 

 trious mother rears a second brood. 



We have them as tenants nearly every year, 

 and they make delightful neighbors. Some- 

 times, after the young are quite grown, just 

 before leaving home in the early morning they 

 will hop to the near-by windowsill of our chamber 

 and peek in, old and young, with much gossip 

 which we do not at all understand. 



While Bluebirds are usually regarded as 

 gentle and amiable, they will fight fiercely with 

 other birds, particularly the English Sparrow, 

 for a nesting place. And the male, during incu- 

 bation, jealously guards that portion of the 

 lawn which he regards as his, fighting vigorously 

 and driving away any intruder, be it Robin, 

 Swallow, Sparrow, or even the quarrelsome 

 Kingbird. 



Their notes in spring, usually uttered from 

 a perch, sound like ''cherry, cherry, cheer up''; 

 in the fall after they have gathered in flocks, 

 tJaey wander about uttering the mournful ''tur^ 



