Birds from a Suburban Window 



comforted by the slight warmth of the 

 sun, they clung, hugging the bark, for an 

 hour or more. I watched them closely, but 

 could not see that they made any move 

 ment whatever after alighting. Neither of 

 them once struck the tree with his bill. It 

 was evident that they were there simply 

 for shelter. I watched them until other ar 

 rivals diverted my attention. Several times 

 during the day I saw them in the swamp, 

 always occupying, or seeking, sheltered 

 spots on the trunks of the trees. 



The next arrival was a blue jay, who 

 seemed to have more life in him, as he 

 flew rapidly from tree to tree, springing his 

 rattle and scolding vigorously. He kept up 

 his vituperative language for twenty min 

 utes or so, but finally, as if incensed at the 

 total apathy of the other birds, flew away, 

 to agitate elsewhere. 



While the jay was still complaining, three 

 flickers arrived, conspicuous in flight be 

 cause of their size and their white rumps. 

 I heard one of them utter his sharp, mock 

 ing cry (so like a loon's laugh, on a small 

 scale), as they came dashing into the grove ; 

 but after they had alighted, at some little 



73 



