sacred as the cradle of a baby. Indeed, a bird's nest is or soon 

 will be the cradle of several babies, the babies of the bird-world. 



The cry "Hands off," uttered by the parent-birds as they 

 flutter about in sore distress when frightened from their nests, 

 should be heeded by everyone. Could young people and all 

 people be induced to hear and respect that plaintive cry, what 

 numberless birds would be spared to cheer and help us in our 

 struggle with plant and tree pests. 



The nests of most birds serve but one purpose — they are 

 the temporary homes of the birds while they are hatching and 

 raising their young. At the longest, this period is but a few 

 weeks ; while, with those species that can run about soon after 

 they are hatched, the nest is deserted within a day or two after 

 incubation ends. Such birds are covered at first with a thick 

 down which is soon replaced by a coat of feathers. Most kinds 

 of birds are weak and naked when they come out of the shell 

 and require from two to four weeks of careful brooding and 

 feeding to develop a covering of feathers and gain strength to 

 walk and fly. During this time the parent-birds are constantly 

 engaged in bringing food to their young or in hovering over 

 and guarding them from cold and danger. 



After the young birds have once left the nest, they seldom 

 return to it again. They then spend the day in searching for 

 food, and roost in trees or rest upon the ground or float upon 

 the waters at night. The old birds generally remain with their 

 young only long enough to teach them to care for themselves, 

 after which parents and children separate. Some species 

 like the Quail keep their brood with them until the following 

 spring before they finally leave them. 



When deserted, the nests of many birds soon fall to pieces, 

 or they are torn down by the storms of autumn and winter. 

 This, however, is not the case with the nests that require much 



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