8o 



Bird - Lore 



paper for their nests, in fact, they used all kinds of scraps. Imagine the delight 

 of the family when, on examining one of the Catbird's nests in the autumn, we 

 found one of the children's hair-ribbons, and also a piece of an old dress of the 

 baby ! 



We had read a great deal about how tame birds become when they are pro- 

 tected, but were constantly amazed at the quickness with which they perceived 

 the care taken of them. Perhaps the most remarkable nest was that of a 



A SCREECH OWL'S NEST A SPARROW HAWK'S NEST ON THE 



This box was put up for Flickers in the win- EDGE OF THE WOODS 



ter of 1914. Flickers took possession in March, ^g jj^d much difficulty in keeping red and 



but were driven out by Sparrow Hawks. But flying squirrels out of the houses placed near the 



the Sparrow Hawks were frightened away two woods. In 1915 red squirrels drove out a pair 



weeks later by the too great prominence of the gf Flickers brooding in a box on the forest edge, 



position. Later a pair of Screech Owls adopted 

 it for their home. Last winter we took the box 

 down and carried it to the barn, to serve as 

 a model for making other boxes. On opening it 

 we found a live owl inside. 



Phoebe, which was built under the cornice of the piazza, within reach of my 

 hand. We had a little school in the morning at the house, and ten children 

 were continually running up and down the piazza, shouting at the top of their 

 voices, but the Phoebe went on building her nest, then hatched her eggs and 

 fed her young without fear, though she could see everyone and everyone could 

 see her. 



I was also surprised to find how friendly birds, even of the same species, can 

 become. For instance, we had fourteen pairs of Wrens on a single acre, some 

 of the nests being not more than fifteen feet apart. We also had Robins nest- 

 ing only twelve yards apart. The Bluebirds, on the other hand, do not like 



