CHAPTER m 



BIRD HOMES 



Courtship. The nesting-season begins with the 

 courtship of the birds, during which time the birds 

 mate in preparation for the nest-building and the 

 rearing of the young. The male is in full song at this 

 time and frequently performs curious antics as a 

 means of attracting the attention of a mate. In 

 some cases it is probable that birds mate for only 

 one season, while in other cases it is believed that 

 this mating lasts for life. Some birds, such as pheas- 

 ants, are polygamous. The author once watched a 

 male red-winged blackbird which had three mates, 

 each with a nest and young ones. 



Distinguishing characteristics of nests. After the 

 mating, the next step is the construction of the nest. 

 Each species builds a characteristic nest similar to 

 those built by its parents, so that it is possible from 

 seeing a nest to tell the bird which made it. But 

 while the nests of birds of the same species are quite 

 similar, yet there are many individual variations 

 within these limits set by the species. It is interest- 

 ing to know that the first time a young bird builds 

 a nest, it uses the same sort of material, makes the 

 nest of the same shape, and constructs it in the same 



