Extraordinary 
numbers of 
Fo^Sp arrows 
and Juncos 
about the 
cabi n at 
Ball's Hill 
It v/as not necessary to go far afield to-day to 
see and hear very many spring birds. Despite the storm — 
or rather because of it — they came about the cabin in 
numbers which I have never known equalled here before at 
this season. The high, wooded ridge of Ball’s Hill formed 
an almost perfect wind-break and we kept two small areas 
within a few yards of our windows clear of snow and 
supplied with quantities of hemp seed, sunflower seed 
and bread and cracker crximbs. The nev/s must have been 
spread far and wide in Sparrow language tha.t there was 
snug shelter and abundant food under the lea of Ball’s 
Hill, for thither came Fox Sparrows and Juncos in ever 
increasing numbers until by noon the place literally 
swarmed with them. With them came a few Song and Tree 
Sparrows, a dozen or more Robins, a Hermit Thrush and 
an extremely forlorn-looking/male Bluebird. We could do 
nothing, of course, to entertain the three species last 
named but all the seed-eating birds were given such a 
feast as they probably do not often enjoy even in the 
best of times. I am bound to say that they made the 
most of it and that they seemed glad to show such appre¬ 
ciation of our hospitality as lay in their power. Thus 
they ate steadily and unceasingly from morning to night, 
they sang equally without cessation from sunrise to 
evening twilight and as the day wore on they gained more 
and more confidence in us until they finally became almost 
as confiding as pet Ganaries or domestic Pigeons. 
