Jtutigo hunting 



Mr. Bunting, Esquire, is an illustrious member of the 

 indigo bunting family that lives in the apple tree community. 

 Dressed in rich blue feathers from head to tail, he adds a 

 sapphire flash of color to the old apple tree. 



But what a surprise it was when I became acquainted with 

 plain little Mrs. Indigo Bunting, who built her nest in a 

 clump of nearby blackberry bushes. She has only a tinge of 

 blue in her feathers, and resembles a common little brown- 

 striped sparrow. 



Our female indigo bunting built her well-constructed nest 

 from orchard grass and animal hairs, and placed it safely out 

 of reach in the thorny protection of the blackberry stems. 

 Three bluish-white eggs laid there soon hatched into three 

 hungry baby buntings. The fledglings have the color of their 

 mother until they are practically grown; not until their first 

 molt do the male youngsters begin to take on the deep blue 

 of their father. 



Throughout the day, while Mrs. Bunting kept herself 

 busy feeding and caring for her young, Mr. Indigo Bunting 

 stood guard on a nearby perch in the old apple tree, main- 

 taining a constant watch over his wife and children. When 

 I went near the nest he quickly voiced his alarm with a 

 persistent cheep, cheep, cheep. 



The male indigo bunting is a sweet singer. After most 

 birds cease singing for the summer I often hear him pouring 

 out his melodious notes on a hot August day. And I notice 

 that he sings his best when perched on the topmost branch 

 of the old apple tree with the clear blue sky overhead. 



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