How to Understand the Birds ( 43 



sees them in and about "his" house, he will experience a feeling 

 of pride and protective tenderness. 



But remember that birds are often very "choosy," inspecting 

 and passing up, or simply ignoring, an ideal-looking residence 

 designed for them and nesting nearby in a hollow stump, post, or 

 tree. To be a successful bird-house "proprietor" you need to be 

 familiar with the habits and wants of the birds you wish to attract, 

 and to make a building especially suitable for them. This cer- 

 tainly improves your prospects of attracting "tenants." You can 

 still expect surprises, for birds like to do things their own way. 

 One summer a neighbor of mine proudly drew my attention to 

 wrens settling in a home he had built for them. The following 

 year he sheepishly admitted that other wrens were using the house 

 as a foundation. They were nesting on the roof! 



The Hobby of Nest Collecting 



In doing their own nest building, birds choose from a wide vari- 

 ety of materials. The chipping sparrow goes exploring for fine 

 roots, the robin prefers mud and grass, the ovenbird fancies the 

 spore stems of mosses, while the Baltimore oriole favors milkweed, 

 bark, and long moss. If their favorite materials are not to be 

 found, birds are ever resourceful in finding substitutes. My son's 

 nature collection includes a chipping sparrow nest that is neatly 

 lined with pig bristles! Orioles are noted for their fondness for 

 yarn if any happens to be available. And there are many other 

 examples of the ingenuity which birds lavish on their nests. 



Spring is the season for providing nesting places. To enjoy the 

 hobby of collecting nests, you ought to wait until fall; for in this 

 way you avoid removing a nest when there is still a chance that 

 the birds may have a further use for it. 



Many birds are masters at the art of concealment, and you will 

 need all your powers as a "nature detective" to find nests before 

 most of the leaves have fallen. Some birds, such as the humming- 

 bird, use a camouflage technique to protect their nests. Another 

 favorite device, used by the warbler, for example, is to nest in 

 thick foliage. Still another precaution, favored by some owls, is 

 to build high in tall trees. 



