CHAPTER III 



THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN NATURE 



THE DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS 



THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS 



THE VOICE OF BIRDS 



THE NESTING SEASON 



THE PLUMAGE OF BIRDS 



THE FOOD OF BIRDS 



GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ADULT BIRD 



For one person with the time and equipment essential to research 

 in systematic ornithology, there are hundreds, equally ambitious, but 

 handicapped by limited opportunity and inadequate material. To 

 what problems can these amateur students turn their attention? 

 How can they gratify their ambition to make some noteworthy contri- 

 bution to the science of birds? 



Large collections and museum facilities are within reach of com- 

 paratively few, but living birds are everywhere; even the Sparrow 

 of our streets is worthy of our attention, and anyone who can get 

 out-of-doors has the opportunity to add to our knowledge of birds. 

 Indeed, observations of real value have been made from a window 

 or from an invalid's chair. 



It is proposed, therefore, to present here at least an outline of those 

 branches of ornithology which relate to the habits of birds, with the 

 object of suggesting some field to which the student may devote his 

 attention. To do this at great length, however, would require a volume 

 alone, and I have therefore dwelt fully on only those two branches of 

 bird study which especially interest the field student migration and 

 nesting treating other phases of the subject in less detail. 



The importance of specialization, with a definite end in view, 

 cannot be too strongly emphasized. Select a subject for investigation, 

 or a species, preferably the most common one in your vicinity, for 

 continued observation, and your studies will acquire a character, 

 importance, and interest which they lacked before. Not only will you 

 pursue your field work with renewed pleasure and enthusiasm, but 

 your researches will lead to the reading of publications which before 

 seemed unattractive, and your search for information will develop a 

 correspondence with fellow students throughout the country, widen- 

 ing your horizon and leading to those delightful associations born of 

 kindred tastes. 



It must not, however, be supposed that one cannot enjoy an 



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