Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON 



Address all communications for this Department to the Editor, at Greensboro, N. C. 



To Study Bird Tenants 



IF those Young Observers who put out bird -boxes this spring will watch 

 closely, they may see many new and delightful things happen when the 

 birds come to make their nests in them. Let me suggest that each of 

 you have a note-book and keep a diary of w^hat takes place about the bird- 

 box. When you once begin this, there will be so many things to write 

 down that you may find it hard to know just what to include in your notes. 

 In order to guide those who may be interested in keeping a note-book, I 

 am going to ask some questions, which if you can answer correctly at the 

 end of the summer will show that you have made a good study of the birds 

 you have been watching. With this information all carefully preserved in 

 your note-book, you will be able to write an article for the ' Young Observ- 

 ers ' department, and thus let us all share something of the pleasure which 

 has been yours during the days when you so carefully watched the pair of 

 bright birds flying daily about your home. 



POINTS TO BE NOTED 



1. What date did the birds first appear to take notice of the box ? 



2. What kind of birds chose the box as their home, and did any other 

 species attempt to drive them away ? 



3. When did they first begin to bring material for the nest, and how 

 many days before they ceased to perform their work ? 



4. What time of day did the birds work most at their task, and how 

 early in the morning and late in the evening did you see them thus engaged ? 



5. Did the male and female both build their home; if not, which one 

 appeared to be the most active in the work ? 



6. On what date was the first egg laid, and when did the last 

 one appear ? 



7. Which bird sat on the eggs to incubate them, or did both birds take 

 turns attending to this duty ? 



8. How many days passed before the eggs hatched ? 



9. How often were the young fed between eight and nine o'clock in 

 the morning and between four and five o'clock in the afternoon on two dif- 

 ferent days ? Did both birds feed the young, and could you tell what they 

 fed them ? 



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