212 Bird - Lore 



THE BLUEBIRD 



I saw a Bluebird near the sandheap in the apple tree. He had his nest in 

 our apple tree. He had a blue back. He had a blue side. He eats seeds. We 

 throw crumbs of bread out to the birds. I always watch for the birds. I watch 

 for the Bluebirds in the spring. The Bluebird has a red-brown breast. — 

 Angie Abel (Grade 11, age 8). 



[The habit of watching for the birds in the spring and for the blossoming of plants 

 and hatching of insects is a fine habit to form. "Study Nature, not books," was the 

 favorite advice of one great teacher of Nature. — A. H. W.j 



THE BOBOLINK 



I am a member of the Junior Branch of the Audubon Society of Connecti- 

 cut. I live in Redding. 



The Orchard Oriole is commonly called the Bobolink throughout the coun- 

 tries it inhabits. Its plumage varies with age and sex. It is often confounded 

 with other species. Its nest is a wonderful structure, woven strongly of grasses 

 into a purse-like shape, and it looks as though it was spun on a loom. 



This bird is the true friend of the farmer, for it destroys the destructive 

 bugs which infest the fruit trees. 



Since I have joined the bird club I have tried to find out the habits of birds, 

 and have fed them until they have become tame and come every morning for 

 food. — John Carroll, (aged 12). Redding, Conn. 



THE CHICKADEE 



I am a member of the Junior Audubon Society of the Connecticut branch. 

 I have chosen the Chickadee to WTite about. 



The Chickadee's song is heard in the woodland fields. The Chickadee starts 

 with a human voice and calls its own name, "Chickadee," Chick-a-dee-dee-dee- 

 dee, then starts all over again. 



The Chickadee is fond of meat scraps that some kind boy or girl has tied 

 to a limb of a tree where they have seen the Chickadee perch. 



One day in February, when the ground was covered with snow, I took some 

 scraps of meat and tied them to a cherry tree. One day afterward I saw a 

 Chickadee on the under side of the meat. It got a good mouthful and flew 

 away. It became so tame that it flew in the woodhouse door and flew against 

 the window, but I caught it and set it free. I joined the Bird Society when I 

 was twelve years of age. — R. Ryder (aged 12), Redding, Conn. 



[These two entertaining letters show the value of our Junior Audubon organization. 

 It might be well to notice that the Orchard Oriole and Bobolink are two quite differ- 

 ent species. Although both are fine songsters, and the male and female of each are 

 unlike in coloration, the nesting- and feeding- habits and flight of the two are entirely 

 distinct.— A. H. W.l 



