IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCE 
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look for it in our deep, secluded woods, though occasionally a pair is found in 
the more open woods and groves. 
The tanager’s stay with us is short, being from about May 15th until August 
20th. The nest he builds is a rather flat, irregular nest of sticks and root 
fibers, lined with finer material of the same kind and placed on a high, hori- 
zontal branch of a white or bur oak tree. 
English Sparrow. Words strong enough cannot be found to adequately ex- 
press the denunciation which* the bird lover feels toward this feathered pest 
that is overrunning our land, destroying our native birds, our grain and our 
buildings, and scattering weeds and vermin wherever it goes. We all know 
the habits of this unmitigated pest too well to need description. Let us en- 
courage and aid in the destruction of the English sparrow wherever possible 
and thereby do what we can to check their increase and protect our native 
birds. 
Vesper Sparrow. We turn now to the well known twilight singer of the 
road sides and the fields. 
The vesper sparrow arrives here from the southern states in April and from 
then on until October you may hear his sweet, clear song from late afternoon 
until night. His nest is built in a deep depression in the ground and lined 
with a thick layer of soft grasses neatly woven together. These sparrows are 
mostly seed eaters, though during the summer, insects and berries also fur- 
nish part of their feed. 
Chipping Sparroio. As the vesper sparrow closes the evening chorus of the 
birds, so the chipping sparrow leads out in the morning melody. This little 
fellow is perhaps the most common of our native sparrows in Polk county, 
and being of a sociable turn of mind, is found in almost every locality where 
the English sparrow is not in too complete possession. 
Their nests are built of fine grasses lined with horse hair and placed in 
bushes or trees all the way from the ground up to fifty feet. 
Song Sparrow. The song sparrow is the most constant singer among our 
Iowa birds. Arriving here in early March, his song does not cease until he 
leaves in November, though it changes quality and tune several times. 
The singer may be found in the open fields, the shrub-dotted pastures, the 
light groves, the gardens and the orchards, and even in the light woods I have 
at times come upon him. The nest is built on the ground or in a low bush or 
clump of weeds, not well hidden as a rule. 
Swamp Song Sparrow. Not such a singer as his cousin of the upland pas- 
tures, and much rarer in Polk county, the swamp song sparrow is, neverthe- 
less, a splendid vocalist and a common summer resident in nearly all the 
swamps along our rivers and the ponds northwest of Des Moines. They are 
shy birds and build their nests in the reeds and swamp grass or in small bushes 
in the swamps and may be found here nearly any time from the first of April 
until their departure for 'the southern states in late October. 
Field Sparrow. Another half shy, half bold little songster of the fields and 
meadows. The field sparrow is quite common in the meadows about Des 
Moines, though heard much oftener than seen. Its season with us is almost 
identical with that of the song sparrow, as are also its nesting habits. 
American Goldfinch: Wild Canary. This cheery, genuine whole-souled little 
beauty, with his confiding, happy manner and wild carefree, canary-like song, 
has an individuality all his own. 
