A Bluebird Study 



By L. CLAUDE, Baraboo. Wis. 



ON May 26, two Bluebirds were caroling gaily on the vine stakes near 

 the house, and I suspected that they had a nest in the plum thicket 

 close by. A search revealed the nest in one of the old stubs, but still 

 empty. So I concluded that they had raised their first brood and were pre- 

 paring for the second. 



Three days afterward, there were three eggs in the nest, and the female 

 was sitting. From then on, during all the incubating period, the Bluebirds 

 were very quiet, their manner in this respect being quite dififerent from what 

 it had been the day I first noticed them. 



The first time I saw the young Bluebirds after they were hatched, they 

 seemed to be suffering from the heat, though there was a crack at the back of 

 the nest which should have given ventilation. The old birds made some objec- 

 tion to my examining their nest, and the male circled over the stub, and then 

 flew to another plum tree, followed by a full-grown nestling, who appeared 

 more excited and disturbed than he did. 



Everything that the old birds did was watched with interest by this nestling, 

 whose conduct was most unusual. As the old Bluebirds permitted the young 

 one to be with them, and to approach the nest, without molesting it; and as 

 it used the same trees and branches, and was so evidently at home in that 

 particular spot, I could only think that it was one of the nestlings of the first 

 brood. For all who are conversant with the ways of birds know that they are 

 exceedingly jealous of any encroachment on their particular haunts, especially 

 during the nesting-season, when each separate family guards its own home 

 spot, and the usual approaches to it, most vigilantly. 



But, should the young bird not have belonged to that family, its next 

 proceeding was none the less surprising. For it soon came with a worm, and 

 hovered near the nest, but did not actually go to it, behaving just as the old 

 birds did, when made nervous by my presence. 



It was some time before the male Bluebird could decide to feed the young 

 ones that morning, but at last he did it. And his mate was still slower in 

 making up her mind. 



The next time I came to watch the Bluebirds, there was the usual period 

 of trouble before they could settle down to their regular work of attending 

 to the young in the nest. And again it was the male who fed them first. Soon 

 after the young bird appeared and alighted on the stub containing the nest. 

 He carried a large insect, and, in an instant more, came to the nest and, leaning 

 in, fed the young, then lingered, looking in, as the old birds do before going 

 away. 



Amazing as this proceeding was, it was evidently something that he was 

 quite accustomed to do, and it gave point to all his unusual conduct. After 



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