Our Blue Jay Neighbors 



53 



The birds were very neat about their nest, both parents cleaning it 

 daily. The excrement was not simply thrown out, as one would naturally 

 expect, but was carefully removed to a distance. 



On a platform built outside the window, a camera was placed bringing 

 the nest somewhat less than ten feet away. The birds, accustomed to 

 children's and painters' voices, paid no attention, and a series of photographs 

 were taken of the family life in the tree. 



One afternoon when the growing birds had come to fill their nest to 

 overflowing, a severe storm came up, turning the tree-top and nest upside 

 down. As we sat together inside the house our one thought was for the 

 birds outside in the increasing storm. In the flashes of lightning we could 

 see the mother, soaked by the rain, with head bent, her feathers spread out 

 over her little ones, keeping her place in spite of the violent gusts of wind. 

 Next morning one fat little bird, showing blue on his wings, was found 

 dead on the ground, while the process of stuffing the remaining four went 

 on above just as usual. 



At last the nest was discovered empty, and by the cries and excitement 

 on the lawn we traced the young birds to their perches in the trees, solici- 

 tously guarded by their anxious parents. They were coaxed and urged into 

 trying short flights, and blundered about with an aimless and uncertain motion. 



For several days we could distinguish them by the yellow of their beaks; 

 but soon we lost them from sight, and "our Blue Jays" were no longer 

 known amid the throng, though their memory will long live in our tradi- 

 tions and their story be well preserved in the camera studies that were so 

 happily and harmlessly stolen. 



