The Audubon Societies 



365 



feeding-shelf at the window. The birds' 'Christmas tree' is well laden, but a 

 rift in the smooth snow blanket covering the shelf shows where an early Junco 

 has been scratching for the seeds that he has learned to expect so regularly. 



We hasten to sweep away the snow and scatter fresh 'chick-feed' for the 

 Juncos and Tree Sparrows and sunflower seeds for the Chickadees and Nut- 

 hatches. We brush off the suet holder on the upright stub at one end of the 

 shelf, only to find that it must 

 be replenished for the hungry 

 Woodpeckers. We get a dough- 

 nut from the pantry and hunt 

 for an old pancake to put out 

 for the Blue Jays. Our bird- 

 walks always begin at home and 

 the more birds we can see while 

 at breakfast, the longer our list 

 will be, and this is the day for 

 the Christmas Bird Census. The 

 celebrations for the kiddies the 

 day before prevented our going 

 on Christmas day, and we have 

 set aside the 26th for a good 

 old-fashioned hike across the 

 fields and through the woods. 



What an ideal day we have 

 for a walk! The snow stops fall- 

 ing while we are at breakfast 

 and the air clears until the dis- 

 tant hills are once more visible. 

 Fortunately, clouds still veil the 

 sun and we will not have the 

 discomfort of its bright light re- 

 flected from the snow to our 

 eyes. Were we hunting spring 

 birds, we would have started 

 soon after daylight, but the 

 winter birds do not become ac- 

 tive until the sun is well above 

 the horizon and from then on they remain active throughout the day. 



Before breakfast is over, our bird-list is well started. The Chickadees 

 announce the arrival of the first troop by their tinkling conversational notes 

 and a scolding chick-a-dee-dee. The yank-yank of a Nuthatch tells us that he 

 is close by, and the sharp Robin-like call of a Hairy Woodpecker proclaims 

 that he will have his breakfast of suet before the Downy this morning. Soon 



TREE SPARROW 

 Photographed by G. A. Bailty 



