Qttyt Mvitnihon Societies! 



SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 



Edited by A. A. ALLEN. Ph.D. 

 Address all communications relative to the work of this 

 department to the Editor, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. \ 



THE HOME-LIFE OF BIRDS 



NEST-BUILDING AND EGG-LAYING 



At no time of the year are birds more interesting than during the nesting 

 period. The throngs of migrating birds bring out their hosts of admirers 

 during April and May; the morning and evening choruses of courting birds 

 draw a response from others during May and June; but the nesting birds are 

 the most fascinating to the quiet observer. The hunting for the nests and the 

 watching of the daily life about the birds' homes hold thrills that are never 

 known by those who put away their glasses when the migration is over. In 

 the last number of Bird-Lore we discussed the courtship of birds; this time 

 let us begin with the mated birds and the building of the nest. 



In the beginning it might be mentioned that most birds are monogamous, 

 that is, they have the same mates throughout the period of the dependency 

 of the young. With birds the entire cycle from birth to maturity occurs within 

 a comparatively few weeks. The home is built, the eggs are laid, the young 

 are cared for until they become entirely self-supporting, with many birds, 

 all within the period of a month or six weeks. With the human species this 

 cycle of events requires anywhere from twenty-one to forty years depending 

 upon the number of children. It is fair, then to say that birds are monogamous, 

 even though they may change mates from year to year, or even between 

 broods, as is sometimes the case, so long as they do not maintain two mates 

 at the same time. Some birds, particularly those that do not migrate, probably 

 retain the same mates year after year and, even among migratory birds, the 

 same two birds may resort to the same nesting-spot year after year and remate. 

 We have very little definite information upon this subject, however, and it 

 is one of the problems which 'bird-banding' should throw much light upon. 

 In this, as in most aspects of the home-life of birds, there is as much individual 

 difference as there is with the human species, which makes it difficult to general- 

 ize upon but most fascinating to observe. Indeed the similarity of their lives 

 and actions and responses to our own is so striking that it has led some nature 

 writers to endow them with an intelligence and power of thought that is not 

 justified by the facts. Some birds are remarkably faithful to one another 

 while others have much greater attachment for the nesting-site than they 

 have for their mates. If one of a pair of Canada Geese is killed or permanently 



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