Vermont Bird Club 25 



mate. On Easter Sunday, March 31, Mrs. Bluebird was hard at work 

 making her new home. A late, cold spring delayed their housekeeping. 

 However, on May 10, four little nestlings brought great joy to this 

 little home. On May 27, three youngsters so plump and pretty came 

 to the door many times and looked out into the world so new and 

 strange to them, while the parents were teaching them their call 

 notes. 



Early next morning the four little birds made their debut, being 

 escorted by their parents to a nearby orchard, each one being able to 

 fly quite independently. On May 29, the ground was white with snow. 

 My birds moved to an open pasture lot where brighter sun and shorter 

 grass better enabled them to hunt insects, which were very scare. 

 On Memorial Day a hawk caused a tragedy in our bird family. The 

 mother bird and one of the children fell victims to a savage appetite. 

 The father coaxed the three remaining children back to the orchard 

 and later to the trees on our lawn. The lonely parent was now in 

 a sad plight with three hungry mouths to feed and with insects 

 scarce. 



I trust I lightened his burdens by throwing May beetles underneath 

 the wires from which he watched for insects below. He would im- 

 mediately dart down and after beating them to. a pulp, would take them 

 to his babies in the branches. He became quite tame and was loved 

 and admired by us all. Meanwhile, the little home in the bird box 

 was very dear to the faithful father, as not a day passed that he did 

 not go in and out many times. 



After a little, the second brood left the nest, the parents leading the 

 so gay that he attracted a spinster or a widow and brought her home 

 to be his bride, and stepmother to his beautiful babies. If he had 

 hoped that she would help him share his lamily burdens, he must 

 have been sadly disappointed, for Mrs. Bluebird No. 2 immediately 

 proceeded to correct his babies. Many times he was obliged to step 

 in between them and would coax her away by bringing her some choice 

 insect. Soon the young birds began to procure their own food, but 

 the father fed them a hearty meal at supper time. 



In due season five little ones appeared in the new home. The 

 mother was tender and devoted to them. She was never willing 

 that the older children should even step in for a look at their little 

 half brothers and sisters. Moreover, she insisted that the father 

 should help her drive his older children from home. At first he 

 objected and continued his watchfulness and devotion to his mother- 

 less children. But finally, after constant scolding from wife No. 2, 



