When the North Wind Blows 



When birds are watched at close range and for long periods, as is usually 

 the case at permanent photographic stations, one is continually learning 

 new habits of each species or learning to interpret observations that he has 

 made through his glasses. For instance, the little courtship performances of 

 the Chickadees and Nuthatches had entirely escaped the author's attention 

 until he watched them at his feeding-stations. It seems that bright colors, 

 song, display, and aggressiveness are not the only qualities which the females 

 exact. The males must prove that they are good providers as well. One can 

 often see the male Nuthatch or Chickadee' swoop over to the feeding-station 

 from an adjacent tree where he has left the female, gallantly hack open a 

 sunflower seed or rip off a piece of suet, and, with another swoop, return to 

 his prospective and present her with the titbit. Sometimes they will come 

 to the feeding-station together, and yet the female makes no efi"ort to eat 

 until the male has presented her with food which he has selected. 



In the wings and tail of the Nuthatch are some conspicuous black and 

 white marks which 

 would ordinarily be 

 considered 'flash colors,' 

 because they are dis- 

 played only when the 

 bird is in motion and 

 concealed when the bird 

 is at rest. On numerous 

 occasions we have ob- 

 served at close range at 

 feeding - stations how 

 these 'flash colors' are 

 of direct service to the 

 birds in another way, 

 and on two occasions 

 secured photographs of 

 the bird in action. 



It seems the Nut- 

 hatch is quite an aggres- 

 sive bird and wants 

 things all his own way. 

 If other birds arc feed- 

 ing when he wants to 

 eat, he i)r()nii)lly drives 

 them away or, at least, 

 attempts to do sc, 

 although with the na- an indigo-bird coming to a FEEDiNcsT.vrioN 



... , Thorr ari' always surprises in store for thosi- who will krcp up 



tive hirds that an their fcv.linc throuRhout the sprinK 



