The Bluebird g 



living they can, but at night they collect in 

 large numbers at some favourite roosting place. 

 Oftentimes the weary mother birds are now 

 raising second broods. We like to believe that 

 the fathers return from the roosts at sun-up 

 to help supply those insatiable babies with 

 worms throughout the long day. 



After family cares are over for the year, robins 

 moult, and then they hide, mope, and keep silent 

 for awhile. But in September, in a suit of new 

 feathers, they are feeling vigorous and cheerful 

 again; and, gathering in friendly flocks, they 

 roam about the woodland borders to feed on the 

 dogwood, choke cherries, juniper berries, and 

 other small fruits. You see they change their 

 diet with the season. By dropping the undi- 

 gested berry seeds far and wide, they plant great 

 numbers of trees and shrubs as they travel. 

 Birds help to make the earth beautiful. With 

 them every day is Arbour Day. 



It is a very dreary time when the last robin 

 leaves us, and an exceptionally cold winter 

 when a few stragglers from the south-bound 

 flocks do not remain in some sheltered, simny, 

 woodland hollow. 



THE BLUEBIRD 



Is there any sign of spring quite so welcome 

 as the glint of the first bluebird unless it is his 



