1^ 



MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



AN ORNITHOLOGICAL THRONE. 



WHEN THE BUDS UNFOLD. 



By A. B. Klugh. 



Sec'y. Wellington Field Naturalist's Club. 

 Giielph, Ont 



Tbis throne was not one of the gold 

 and plush affairs which the unfortu- 

 nate individuals known as kings have 

 to occupy, but the upturned roots of 

 a forest giant, which reached upward 

 some fifteen feet into the air. It 

 stood in the middle of a swale — just 

 such a place as the migratory passers 

 love to visit on their journeys — and 

 on Sept. 1 of last year I took my seat 

 upon it. 



When in this elevated position J 

 appeared to be among the branches 

 of the smaller trees, and at this sea- 

 son it was a most interesting place to 

 be, as they were inhabited in succes- 

 sion by thousands of birds. Birds 

 were everywhere in the swale, among 

 the brush piles were White -throated 

 Sparrows, Mourning Warblers and 

 Winter Wrens, in the tree tops were 

 Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Gros- 

 beaks, Yellow-throated Vireos, Crest- 

 ed Flycatchers, Black-throated Green 

 Warblers, Blackburnian Warblers 

 and Magnolia Warblers, while in va- 

 rious situations were Nashville War- 

 blers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 

 Red eyed and Philadelphia Vireos, 

 Cedar Waxwings, Catbirds, Purple 

 Finches, Black and White Warblers, 

 Redstarts, Oven-birds and Red-breast- 

 ed Nuthatches. 



From the throne there branched out 

 a slender root and on this a female 

 Ruby -throated Humming bird alight- 

 ed and sat for some time within reach 

 of my hand. 



Red -eyed Vireos and many species 

 of Warblers gleaned their fare within 

 a few feet of my eyes, while up and 

 down the trunks of the same trees 

 ran the Red-breasted Nuthatches. 

 Some of these latter were the bright- 

 est which I have ever seen of this 

 species, their backs were not merely 

 blue -gray but a bright blue. 



Those birds which frequented the 

 tree tops I could bring almost, it 

 seemed, within reach by the aid of my 

 12 power glasses. 



I have spent many delightful hours 

 in the bush but none which 1 ever 

 enjoyed more than those during 

 which I sat on my ornithological 

 throne. 



Haitie Washburn. 



The birds are with us once again 



And are singing as of old 

 For Spring is here with all her train 



And the tender buds unfokl. 



The Robin from his perch on high 

 Sings to us his song of cheer, 



'Mid meadow grasses brown and diy 

 Larks are calling far and near. 



Silhouetted against the sky 



We see the circling Crane, 

 The lone Killdeer sends down his cry, 



A cry devoid of pain. 



The Grackle with majestic mien 

 Fearless walks about our door, 



The Bittern and wild Duck are seen 

 Along the ponds' grass grown shore. 



Blackbirds, a melodious band, 



Flaunt wings decked with red or gold, 

 The Veery trills a carol grand 



When the springtime buds unfold. 



The Kingbird has reclaimed his throne 

 On the blazed tree's topmost bough. 



The Bob White calls in cheerful tone 

 From yonder hill's withered l>row. 



The Catbird sings once more his lay. 

 The Nuthatch climbs the tree 

 And woodlands ring throughout the day 

 With melody wild and free. 



Flickers beat time upon the tree 

 While the songsters sing their lays 



And gentle Spring from sorrow free 

 Smiles and blushes at their praise. 



Loved orchestra of happy Spring 

 After winter's storm and cold 



Peace and joy to all hearts they bring 

 When the tender buds unfold. 



