Birds of The Palisades Interstate Parle 
83 
was the mention of a pair of Chipping Sparrows feeding helpless 
young in their nest in a small cedar in the dooryard, alongside the 
path from the front porch to the dining cabin. 
35. Goldfinch. Astragalinus tristis tristis (Linn.) 
The Goldfinch is one of the common birds in the Guest House 
neighborhood, showing its usual habits in its late summer activities. 
36. Baltimore Oriole. Icterus galbula (Linn.) 
This oriole is very common in the Guest House neighborhood. 
On June 11 I noted that a pair of orioles were feeding young in 
a nest in the large tulip tree in the margin of the west side of the 
front dooryard. The site was about two-thirds up the height of 
the tree, at the extreme end of a drooping branch nearly alone, the 
nest being hidden somewhat by a spray of leaves at the extremity 
of the otherwise almost bare limb. The female bird was a jealous 
guardian of the home, darting angrily at every bird chancing to 
visit that part of the tree. Early one morning this nest was found 
by a jiair of crows, and after a fierce defense by the owners, the 
marauders succeeded in carrying off the helpless young. 
37. Red-winged Blackbird. Agelavus plioeniceus phceniceus 
(Linn.) 
The Red-winged Blackbird is everywhere associated with the 
little marshes at the ends of the lakes, and- with the vegetation 
growing in the water where new ponds and lakes have been made. 
The small marsh at the head of Little Long Pond was tenanted 
by a number of families of Red-wings, and their loud whistles and 
call-notes were heard every day until the drying up of the con- 
tributing brooklet late in July. On June 19 I examined several 
nests of Red-winged Blackbirds in the little grassy marsh men- 
tioned. Most of the nests were in low shrubs in shallow water. 
One nest was in a small clump of buttonbush sprouts about two 
feet higher than the water, and was constructed about a foot 
above the water, the material being coarse grass stems lined with 
finer grasses. This nest contained three eggs. Another nest was 
also in a buttonbush, where sparse stems grew against a tussock of 
