﻿My Experience with a Blue-headed Vireo 



By EMILY R. LYMAN 



ON June 30, 1905, during my summer vacation among the Pocono 

 Mountains, I was so fortunate as to be taken to the spot which had 

 been selected by a pair of Blue-headed Vireos for their building 

 operations. Their nest was firmly suspended from one of the lower branches 

 of a small red maple, about six feet from the ground. The maple stood on 

 the edge of the wood, twenty feet from the public road, where the con- 

 stant passers-by in no wise disturbed the birds. Near by a cottage was 

 being built, about which workmen were continually hauling and hammer- 

 ing; the noise, apparently, never annoying the birds. 



I had been told that the female, while sitting upon her nest, had per- 

 mitted herself to be gently stroked upon the back, by a bird-lover who had 

 visited her. I felt sure that I, also, could gain her confidence, and enter 

 into friendly relations with her. I determined never to pry into her nest, 

 nor to disturb her in any unnecessary way. My sole aim was to make her 

 feel that she need not fear me. 



I began my overtures by walking slowly and silently toward her; my 

 arm slightly extended, my hand closed, my forefinger held out) upon the 

 end of which I had placed crumbs of cracker and hard-boiled egg mashed 

 together. When standing directly under the nest I could just reach up to 

 it, holding my finger within an inch or two of the little mother's head. 

 There I awaited her pleasure. 



The first time I offered the food she seemed surprised, but not much 

 startled; for she flew off her nest, only to return in a few moments, to eat 

 ' from the branch, where I had placed it, the morsel which she had refused 

 from my finger. I repeated the experiment two or three times, when, gain- 

 ing in confidence, the bird ate directly from my finger. I continued 

 feeding her for quite a while, sometimes twice a day; nearly always finding 

 her upon the nest, willing to indulge in an extra luncheon. 



I have not made any account of the male, for my business was not with 

 him; I think he was doing all that was required of him, and in my absence, 

 no doubt, was a devoted mate. Occasionally he would make known his 

 presence, and in answer to his call his wife would join him. My affec- 

 tion was for his better half, for such I believe she was. 



Not only did I continue feeding her for days, but I emulated Mr. Tor- 

 rev's example, got out my old-fashioned silver teaspoon, from which I 

 offered the Vireo dame a liquid mixture of water, cracker and egg. This 

 she daintily partook of, while leaning over the edge of her nest to get it;_ 

 rather preferring, I imagine, a plainer table, that of the accustomed finger. 



Upon one occasion, she seemed particularly happy and confident. While 

 I, a creature large enough to have crushed her in an instant, stood by her 



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