CHAPTER XV 



Nest Building 



AT THE nesting season, for a short time, we 

 /_% may come in close contact witli bird life. 

 jL m. We may feel that we really understand bird 

 processes; for the language of motherhood during 

 cradle-making is universal. Wlien a location is 

 wanted by a pair, the male often takes the lead, 

 carries sticks and blades of dry grass to one place 

 and another, turning and fussing over the spot as 

 if to indicate to his mate that he has found a first 

 class nesting site. 



We see our male robins doing this around the 

 Cabins every summer. Male wrens prepare all 

 the wren boxes on the premises for a nest. Male 

 bluebirds carry nest material to boxes even before 

 the females arrive. If it were true, as some writers 

 assert, that male birds do not assist in nest building, 

 these would be very deceptive and misleading acts 

 on the part of the birds; for by them they surely 

 show the female that they consider a certain loca- 

 tion suitable for a nest, and with her consent, will 

 begin building. Our male song sparrows always try 

 to dominate the nesting site; while in the hedge, 

 pairs of these birds are always close together, 



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