26 THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



It is perhaps less likely to be discovered by enemies 

 than the nest of any other bird. Rarely does an 

 accident befall it. What a strange, cunning place 

 for young birds to grow up in! How interested 

 they must be the first time they climb up and from 

 the doorway peep into the strange wilderness 

 world. 



Nearly a month elapsed before I was again in 

 the aspen grove. When I tapped lightly on the 

 woodpeckers' tree four agitated bills were thrust 

 out of the doorway. But as they saw nothing to 

 eat the four red-topped youngsters withdrew their 

 bills and, I suppose, settled back to the bottom of 

 the nest. Presently one of the old birds appeared, 

 and instantly bills receivable were again presented 

 through the doorway. After feeding one of the 

 youngsters the old bird eyed me for a moment 

 with a peculiar look — suggesting curiosity, how- 

 ever, rather than fear. It flew away and a mo- 

 ment later its mate arrived with a grub in its bill. 



I missed the pleasure of seeing the young wood- 

 peckers leave the nest and make their baby start 

 in the wooded world. But one October day I was 

 back in the grove and paused to watch, as usual, 

 the continuous though ever-changing perform- 

 ances. While I was standing near the nest tree a 

 busy chipmunk climbed up and peeped into the 

 deserted woodpecker nest. Then he climbed up 

 a few feet higher, went round the tree and came 

 back to the nest. After several times thrusting in 





