LIVING THINGS IN MY YARD 277 



Although earthworms have no eyes, ears, or feelers, they are 

 very sensitive to light, touch, and odors. If you do not 

 believe this, try some experiments with living worms and 

 see for yourself. 



Why Birds Are Important Neighbors. Have you ever 

 tried to take a census of the birds in your locality ? You 

 must first know which birds are residents, or stay all year, 

 and those which are migrants and go somewhere else 

 part of the year. The latter usually come in the spring 

 and stay with us for a time. 



Nests and Their Uses. Nests are indications of the 

 habits of the birds that build them and are interesting as 

 pieces of adaptive work. Some are simply loose masses of 

 sticks made like a platform on which the eggs are laid. 

 Such nests are made by crows, hawks, and the brown 

 thrasher. The birds which live near homes usually 

 make nests that are carefully lined with down, grass, or 

 other fibrous materials to make them more comfortable. 

 Most birds do not use their nests a second year, so a 

 collection of nests for the school museum can be made 

 without harm to their makers if taken in the late summer 

 or fall. 



Wright Pierce 



What can you tell about the habits of the birds that made these nests ? 



