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SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



shape their nests. The Baltimore oriole weaves its nest 

 with its bill; the robin uses its breast to mold the shape 

 of the nest. 



Usually from three to six eggs are laid in the nest, and 

 these hatch in about two weeks in the case of most of our 

 common birds. The period that follows the hatching of the 

 young is a most interesting time. One of the most remark- 

 able features about the rearing of the young is the fre- 

 quency of feeding. It is worth while to watch a nest for an 

 hour and see how many times the young are fed. Another 



interesting feature is 

 to watch the parent 

 birds teach the young 

 birds how to fly and to 

 feed themselves after 

 they leave the nest. 



The cowbird has 

 the peculiar habit of 

 laying her eggs in the 

 nests of other birds. 

 When these hatch 

 they are reared by 

 the foster mother the 

 same as her own 

 young. It is a curious sight to see a little mother feeding a 

 young cowbird bigger than herself. (See figure 84.) 



Four things may be done to attract birds : first, provide 

 nesting boxes; second, feed the winter birds; third, pro- 

 vide fountains for drinking and bathing ; and fourth, plant 

 shrubs which bear fruit that is eaten by birds. The first 

 is done in the spring, the third in the summer, and the second 

 in the winter, so something can be done in almost every 

 season of the year. 



Providing nesting boxes. Some kinds of birds will build 

 their nests in artificial nesting boxes put out for them. 



FIG. 84. Redstart feeding young cowbird. 



