16 BIRDS OF THE WEST 



Many birds build like the oriole, far out upon the small 

 branches of trees or cover their eggs, as do many of the ducks, with 

 feathers or dry grass. Orchard orioles make their nests of green 

 grass so that when new they are very difficult to find. Blackbirds, 

 phoebes and barn swallows often build above water, taking the risk 

 of drowning their young rather than the dangers from living ene- 

 mies. Many birds, especially females, grow to resemble in color 

 their nest material or other surroundings. This is true of the che- 

 wink, the indigo-bird, and most of the sparrows and ground-nesters. 

 Birds often trust to the good fortune of being undiscovered but if 

 discovered, like Bob white, the cuckoos and the dove they feign lame- 

 ness, or like the wrens and the kingfishers they scold, or like eagles 

 and hawks, they fight. Flight is the natural method of escape if 

 the home is not involved, though birds like the loon and the grebe 

 and some of the ducks trust to diving beneath the water. 



To protect themselves from other birds is a very difficult prob- 

 lem. Small birds that live in cavities in trees or the earth are 

 naturally protected from larger birds that are unable because of 

 their size to enter their small homes. In that way, even the smaller 

 woodpeckers and the sand swallows are protected. The most prac- 

 ticed method, however, seems to be to select places for homes that 

 are rarely frequented by bird enemies. Birds that come into the 

 city are in less danger from hawks, crows, jays, shrikes and cow- 

 birds, though they must endure the annoyance of English spar- 

 rows. The yellow warbler often builds in the prickly gooseberry 

 bush, the swift in chimneys, and the kingfisher in a hole in the 

 ground that he permits to become such a stench that no self-re- 

 specting creature would go near it. All in all, it is quite a prob- 

 lem to build so as to be protected against so many dangers and at 

 the same time to be near good building material and a generous 

 food-supply. Surely the little birds have their troubles and are 

 entitled to our friendship. 



The next generation will feel and know that all creatures have 

 the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, if 

 they grant the same to others. Do you think that the Creator in- 

 tended that there should be a penalty for beauty? 



Beauty is almost a synonym of "good" and of "true". Yet 

 birds are slaughtered because they are beautiful. Even a throne 

 gained by wading through slaughter no longer calls for the respect 



