ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



19 



joyed watching some very interesting characteristics in the 

 different birds. 



The White-throated Sparrows arrived at our station about 

 October 4 and kept coming until October 25, when the last new 

 bird was banded. From that time on only a few repeating birds 

 were trapped. These seemed to like our restaurant and became 

 regular boarders. Early in November we noticed that a certain 

 five were always together in some of the traps at night, and 

 we handled them so often that it was plain that each had a 

 different disposition. 



There was the Fighter, a female that always fought as long 

 as it was held in the hand, and when released invariably would 

 turn back and take one last peck at the fingers before flying. 

 The next was the Squealer, who squealed continually the entire 

 time it was held in the hand. Then there was the Quiet One, 

 who was just as gentle and quiet as a good little bird could be; 

 sometimes she would take a little hold of your finger but never 

 pinch. We were sure from her actions that she would be the 

 kindest little bird mother that ever lived and we could not re- 

 sist stroking her little head before releasing her. The Kicker 

 never stopped wiggling and kicking as long as we held him. 

 The last, the Common Person, was just ordinary bird; he tried 

 a little of all the actions of the other four. 



The fighter, the Squealer, the Quiet One, the Kicker, and the 

 Common Person will long be remembered as the birds of distinct 

 character that were always together, and we were relieved when 

 it turned cold on No- 

 vember 20th, and they 

 moved on to the South- 

 land. 



A Golden - crowned 

 Kinglet was trapped 

 and seemed so surprised 

 that it just lay perfect- 

 ly still and looked us 

 over while we put the 

 band on its leg and 

 when released it just 

 stood up, straightened 

 out its feathers and 

 then looked us over for 

 a full minute before fly- 

 ing to the nearest limb. 

 A female Downy Wood- 

 pecker trapped last 

 year squealed all the time it was held, and when trapped again 

 this year squealed louder and longer than before. Other Downies 

 would fight but make no noise. 



Photo by R. S. Churchill 



A CHICKADEE IN ACTION 



