BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



usually means the destruction of the rightful 

 nestlings. The large Cowbird egg takes up 

 half the room in the nest, and the big birdling 

 hatched from it will very likely squeeze the 

 little birdlings out altogether, or crush the eggs 

 before they are hatched. Warblers' nests 

 should be examined wherever possible and any 

 Cowbird's egg found there removed. Some- 

 times the birds will build another story to the 

 nest, above the Cowbird egg, and there have 

 been cases where the Cowbird has returned and 

 laid an egg in the upper story. 



In some localities it is claimed that the Blue- 

 jay destroys as many eggs and nestlings as the 

 Blackbird, but with us it has never been the 

 case, as the Bluejay exists in very small num- 

 bers and does not haunt the orchard and gar- 

 dens in all seasons as do some other bird- 

 nesters. 



Besides these feathered enemies there are 

 those commonly called birds of prey, certain 

 Owls and Hawks, but as these prey upon do- 

 mestic fowls as well, they will always be more 

 or less kept in check, and besides they destroy 

 a great many bird enemies, which to some ex- 

 tent balances the injury they do. Even the 

 [173] 



