A Record of the Outcome of Seventy-five 
Birds’ Nests 
By RAYMOND H. WHEELER, Berlin, Mass. 
WENTY Robins’ nests built during the month of May were watched, 
and the following facts obtained. Out of seven that were built in apple 
trees, from five to fifteen feet up, two were robbed by Crows, two 
nests were deserted before they were completed and, in three cases, the broods 
were raised successfully. Two nests were found in maples, both over twenty 
feet from the ground; one was robbed by a red squirrel when the young were 
nearly fledged, and the eggs in the other were eaten by Crows. Two nests, 
one in a cedar and one in an oak, were destroyed by Blue Jays; one in a-pear 
tree was deserted because of its open position, and one placed in a pine was 
successful. The young from three nests which were built in buildings of some 
kind, matured. The only nest destroyed by accident was situated in a pile 
of rocks, where it was washed away by a rainstorm. Two more nests which 
were successful were in a grape-vine and in a wood-pile. In all, four nests 
were deserted, six were robbed, two by Crows, in apple trees; and another 
in a maple; Blue Jays and a red squirrel were responsible for the destruction 
of three others. Only one nest fell a victim to an accident, while the remain- 
ing nine were successful. 
A record of ten Song Sparrows’ nests shows that broods were raised from 
two that were situated near brooks, and that two others, similarly placed, 
were robbed, probably by cats. Four others, which were successful, were 
placed under a brush-pile, under a stone wall, in the tall grass around a sand- 
bank and on a hillside, respectively. One in a bed of wild lily-of-the-valley 
and another in a strawberry patch were deserted because of their open posi- 
tions. 
The young from three Chipping Sparrows’ nests were allowed to mature; 
the nests were all situated in shrubs of some kind. The wind blew down one 
which was built in an apple tree; a fifth placed in a grape-vine was torn to 
pieces by an unknown enemy, probably a cat. 
I could find but two Vesper Sparrows’ nests. However, one was success- 
ful and the other was deserted. Both were on the ground and near habitations. 
Baltimore Orioles were very common. Four nests out of the five that were 
watched turned out successfully. The fifth was destroyed by accidentally 
cutting off the limb from which it hung. 
Notwithstanding the fact that many bird-boxes were put out for the 
Bluebirds, they seemed to prefer hollow limbs previously dug out by Wood- 
peckers. One box, however, was inhabited and the young were raised. One 
nest in a hollow limb was successful, but the young from another fell out 
before they were able to fly, and died. An old pump served as the home of 
a pair of Bluebirds, but too-frequent visits drove them away. 
(183) 
