1903.
May 27
(No 3)
across the open fields from the east uttering a loud chick
at short intervals. Although I was 200 yds. from the tree
I could hear the young clamoring as she fed them. Forbush
& I visited the nest this evening after sunset. We did not
see either of the parents but the young were chattering
continuously and at least one of them was pecking at
the inside walls of the nest most of the time making
a sound precisely like that of an old Woodpecker excavating.
When we pounded on the trunk the pecking ceased but
the chattering cries were redoubled. I saw a Hairy
Woodpecker, which I have little doubt was one of this
pair, near the farm-house this afternoon. Hairy
Woodpeckers are wide roamers. They cover thrice the
ground in their daily wanderings that the Downies do.
I have never known them to breed two successive years
in the same tree or even in the same piece of woods
in this locality at least.
  A Chippy at the farm has a nest in the little white
pine that I set out two years ago near the house. The
tree is scarce four feet high & the nest not over two feet
above the ground. I looked into it to-day & found that
it contained young fully feathered & nearly large enough
to fly. It is a mercy that none of the cats that
roam about the place o' nights have raided it.
  The young Phoebes in the nest under the eaves of
the barn at the farm are also nearly ready to fly.
Those in the horse shed at Ball's Hill have already
gone & their mother is at work repairing the nest
for her second brood.