62 



Bird- Lore 



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APPEARAN'CE OF FOOD 



lating night from tree to tree; they call cheerily, scoldingly, sweetly — it sometimes 

 sounds as though half-a-dozen birds were saying "dee-dee-dee" together. 

 This is their leisure time of the year. 



Again, in October, when the woods are daily growing in autumnal coloring 

 and the air is vibrant with the calls of insects, the voices of Chickadees come from 

 the roadways. But they sound also from the river margins, the hills and the 

 woods; Chickadees are everywhere. It is still the leisure of the year for them. 



But the cold increases and food gets scarce. Group by group birds have 

 journeyed south, but Chickadees remain. Families have united into flocks, 

 which have been still augmented by migrating Chickadees from farther north; 

 winter conditions have returned. 



Flexible pine branches droop with snow; every last shrub and weed has its 

 burden; there is no spot where any bird can set his foot, except in snow. It 

 seems incredible that Chickadees who were contented in fur blankets in June 

 can now keep warm without bedding of any sort. For although a few Chickadees 

 sleep in Woodpecker's holes and there is evidence that during storms small birds 



KNOW WHKNCF. COMKS THEIR MOTHER'S CALL 



