Field Notes 



47 



Wren bathing in trickle from 

 second basin. The first ob- 

 served in the water 



Chipping sparrow 



Wood thrush 



Two olive-backed thrushes 



Ruby-throated hummingbird 

 Least flycatcher 



Yellow warbler 

 Oven-bird 



Male gold-finch 



Strange tiny bird, impossible to 

 identify. Apparently feeding 

 on dandelion seeds, but leap- 

 ing into the air in a peculiar 

 way at intervals. 



Two wood thrushes 



Yellow warbler 



May 11th. 



Same day. This little sparrow 

 and his mate were frequent 

 visitors afterward and nested 

 somewhere near. 



Same day. 



May 14th. These migrant 

 thrushes stayed a week or 

 more, and while not in song, 

 became quite familiar. 



May 16th. 



Same day. Very interesting and 

 unafraid. Stayed a number 

 of days, and used a particular 

 low branch from which it 

 hawked for insects. 



Same day. 



Same day. This peculiar "high- 

 steeping" little bird also 

 stayed several days, but re- 

 mained shy and difficult to 

 observe. 



May 17th. 



May 19th. 



June 12th. 

 July 26th. 



The wood tlirushes made the shelter their home for some time, 

 and we were in hopes would nest there. They became familiar, 

 and did not hsitate to sing when we were quite near. Their lovely 

 voices, heard so closely that every murmur and cadence would be 

 enjoyed fully, was ample reward for whatever trouble and expense 

 the shelter cost. 



The above list includes only unusual visitors. Robins, rose- 

 breasts, orioles, thrashers, and other common though delightful 

 residents, are of course present every year without regard to spe- 

 cial protection. Neither does it include migrants seen in the trees, 

 although they may have been attracted by the shelter. Worthy of 

 mention, however, is the confidence of one or more female rose- 

 breasts, which resorted to the shelter before the nesting season. 

 These demure sparrowy matrons searched for stray sunflower seeds 

 among the bushes almost within reach of hand, and well illustrated 

 the security most birds seemed to feel in the protection of the 

 thicket. It was not at all uncommon to notice small birds dart into 

 the shelter in the fading twilight, and probably there were many 

 lodgers who escaped notice in daytime. 



