58 Bird - Lore 



length from a Lazuli Bunting. How he happened there was a mystery ! Perhaps half an 

 hour later, there nearly alighted on the heads of the much excited observers a Parula 

 Warbler. 



Many dead bodies were found and brought to school. Some had been frozen, some 

 had been killed by beating against houses or trains, while others had been captured by 

 the ever watchful cat. Among the number were three Blackburnian Warblers, one Tree 

 Swallow, one Oven-bird, one Mourning Warbler, one Black-throated Blue, and one 

 Chestnut-sided Warbler. There were several other specimens also which were sent with 

 those named, to be mounted. 



As the birds were so chilled, many of them were captured by the children. One 

 little Assyrian boy on his way to lunch returned before he had gone home in order to 

 bring a Black-throated Blue Warbler. Another teacher tried to take a snapshot of the 

 little prisoner but he escaped. A Wilson's Thrush, early one morning, was placed in an 

 open window from which he chose to watch the school for over half an hour. What 

 pleased the boys was a baby Grackle which had been blown from its nest to the side- 

 walk by the heavy gales. It was placed in a wooden quart measure. Every lad had his 

 turn at digging worms to satisfy the enormous appetite of the little creature. The 

 unceasing cries were tiresome, but they helped to increase interest. What matter, then, 

 if the regular routine for the day was disturbed? 



Not only birds on the wing but nests, eggs and young were studied. As soon as the 

 weather became fair the ranks began to thin. No more did the Parula and Mourning 

 Warblers or the Lazuli Bunting appear to view. However several pairs of birds sought 

 suitable homes for themselves in our vicinity. The children discovered and reported 

 two nests, which contained eggs, in an adjacent field. Of course the names of the owners 

 were learned only after careful stalking. The time required for incubation was never 

 known. However the eager students easily ascertained that the little birds spent approxi- 

 mately eight days in the nests. But a short distance away a large colony of Bank Swal- 

 lows hollowed out nearly two hundred cavities in the soft, sandy river bank. Five 

 minutes' walk from the school building brought to view the old dead tree where the 

 patient mother Flicker abode. At first both parents used to fly away when any one 

 approached but, becoming accustomed to visitors, they in turn surveyed the well mean- 

 ing intruders. A day or two before the close of school a Chipping Sparrow laid five 

 beautiful eggs in a soft nest, hidden in a little evergreen tree. However, the friendly 

 Robins preferred the quiet of the old cemetery for establishing a residence district. 



As for the actual results gained, I can only hope that my daily talks with my children 

 and with the student-teachers who visited our room will extend the interest in birds 

 to all the schools in that section of the Pine Tree State. Just recently one of my former 

 pupils stated in a letter that the business men of Fort Kent were having such signs as 

 'Feed the Birds' posted in their shop windows. The teachers are already planning 

 campaigns there for this spring. — (Miss) Carrie Cooper, Arcadia, Georgia. 



AROOSTOOK STATE NORMAL SCHOOL BIRD-STUDY 



OUTLINE 



Date: 19 — . Name of Observer: 



Weather: Temperature: Wind: Locality: 



Time of Starting: Time of Return: 



Observe accurately and record on the spot as much as you can of the following: 

 Size. Use some well-known bird as a standard for comparison and reduce to inches later. 

 Color, general; 



