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.OF BIRD LIFE 
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The child’s father, Albert Frederick Hochwalt, whose 
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name appears in almost every out-door magazine of the 
country, is an authority on animal life. He was, undoubtedly, 
boy’s first inspiration. Young Albert at the age of six, 
had already acquired a knowledge of birds, and could dis¬ 
tinguish quite a number of them. The study of birds had 
been the senior Albert’s hobby, but the son was to take a still 
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fy greater interest. He was indeed, an apt nature student. In 
the pictures snapped, when the lad was ten years of age, his 
very pose was one of conscious quest for the birds in the trees. 
Learning to read, he turned naturally to the subject that 
was already inspiring to his youthful mind. A collection of 
nature books became one of his early ambitions. He would 
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read for hours, following his author-guide in the adventures 
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which he was to duplicate in fact. Prolonged residence at 
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Highwood farm along the Stillwater River gave him oppor¬ 
tunity to gain in bird lore. Here; his first adventures were 
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undertaken in the woods and along the river bank. His 
library was a treasure trove for him. The books were well 
thumbed. Upon his return from every adventure in birddom, 
he would hasten to the authorities on the subject and seek 
new light, or a solution to a new problem that baffled him 
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