THE J'lAKlNG OF BIRDCRAFT SANf'TUARV 27 



number in a small area are also very destructive. For instance 

 we had a pair of Bluebirds nesting in a box under the Museum 

 eaves; a pair of Robins liking the location began to build on 

 the roof of the Bluebirds' house, causing great excitement 

 among the Bluebirds. After pulling the Robins' nest down twice 

 I concluded to let it alone and finally liotli Bluebii'ds and Robins 

 brought out their young. 



Next year both Bluebirds and Robins i-eturned but the 

 Wrens had increased greatly in luimber and they also found this 

 location to their taste. I thought at the time that the Wrens 

 drove the Bluebirds away as the Robins again started to build 

 over the Bluebirds' nest. Then noticing that tlu' Robins were 

 excited over something, 1 kept watch and saw a Wren leaving 

 the Robins' nest cari'ying an egg which it dropped on the trail. 

 The next day the nest was empty. Since then I have i)icked uj* 

 the eggs of the Robin, Blueliird, Song Sjiarrow, Field Spar- 

 row, Phoebe, (_'atl)ird and Wood Thrush, with the two small 

 holes in the side where the Wrens had punctured them with 

 their sharp bills. 



Crows, Blue Jays and Grackles are also destructive to the 

 birds that start to nest before the foliage is out, but these latter 

 seem to seek the eggs for food while with the Wren it seems to 

 he a matter purely of destruction. 



During the course of the year I have many questions asked 

 of me chief among them being, "Do you find that the same birds 

 return here every year?" 



In 1921-1922 I banded a number of Inrds to find out for 

 myself. This banding was done upon birds, both old and 

 young, that were liberated from the Sparrow trap. (We do not 

 beheve in banding nestlings here in the Sanctuary, as it is very 

 difficult to determine the exact time that young birds will 

 leave a nest and promiscuous handling is (piite likely to break 

 up a household before the due time.) I found that both adults 

 and young so banded have returned every year. 



Juncos and Tree Sparrows that wintered here also re- 

 turned to their familiar roosting places. 



The real surprise to me has been the interest the general 

 public has taken in our ^Museum — adults, school children, and 

 Boy and Girl Scouts alike. Scout Captains bring their troops 

 here to pass their tests on birds, trees and flowers and by hold- 

 in "■ their interest we feel that we are making real headway. 



