HOW TO STUDY BIRDS 



High-powered prism binoculars are often useful when one is 

 looking at shore birds or birds of prey, for they usually have 

 to be viewed at a distance, but such a glass is inferior to a 

 weaker one for small birds, which have to be located quickly 

 as they are actively hopping about. Birds at close range, 

 particularly if they are on or near the ground, can easily be 

 seen without a glass, but small birds in the treetops can sel- 

 dom be seen plainly enough to identify without its aid. As 

 many, because of its size or for fear of soiling, might not like 

 to take this volume afield with them, I will mention that the 

 publishers can supply the same pictures in two small pocket- 

 sized books, with less text of course but perfectly adapted for 

 identifying birds in the fields and woods. These books are 

 Usted on pages in the back of this volume. "Water Birds" 

 includes all birds from the grebes to the parrots, and "Land 

 Birds " includes all the rest. 



It will probably be unnecessary to state that loud talking, 

 unnecessary noise, or quick motions must always be avoided. 

 The date and time of each outing, condition of the weather, 

 and locality visited should be placed at the top of the page. 

 Every bird seen should be listed at the time it is discovered. 

 Following the name put down the number seen and also the 

 number of the same species subsequently seen. If singly 

 or in flocks, so state. If you see ten individuals of a kind, 

 that kind would be regarded as common; if you see twenty- 

 five or more it would be called abundant. If you find a bird 

 that is new to you make notes of its actions, put down as 

 nearly as you can what the song sounds like, and just what 

 kind of a locality it is found in. These facts should be 

 copied in a journal when you reach home, and in a short 

 time you will have an interesting book of your own concern- 

 ing the birds of your vicinity and their actions as they ap- 

 peared to you. 



Any actions or mannerisms that appear to you to be out of 

 the ordinary should be caiefully noted. It is the peculiari- 

 ties that will always serve to identify that species at a dis- 

 tance. For instance, most flycatchers perch quietly on dead 

 twigs, with tail drooping, not moving about until they sud- 



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