J3v tlbe WlavsLe 
OFFICIAL ORGAX OF THE WIS CONSIN, ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN AUDUBON SOCIETIES 
)ne Year 25 Cents 
Single Copy 5 Cents 
Published by the Wisconsin Audubon Society at Madison, Wisconsin 
Enters as sacond class matter August 23, 1908, al Mad,son, Wis„ under the act .1 Ou„,ess .1 March 3, 1879 
r OIa. XII. 
MAY, 1911 
NO. 11 
BIRDS OF HILLCROFT 
hole and' remained out of sight for a few 
' 
roft last' spring were a pair of flickers 
/ho decided, after due deliberation, to 
wild in one branch of the old double 
lack cherry tree that stands a few rods 
rest of the gateway. They seemed very 
’ell pleased with their location and dug 
i . 0 
I nd worked away with hearty good-will, 
bvering the ground at the foot of the 
■ee with chips. They worked until the 
| ole was so deep that we could not see 
ne birds when they were inside. Then 
nne the terrible late snow-storm that 
uised so much suffering among the 
iirds. While the snow remained nothing 
| as seen of the flickers but when it was 
one and pleasant days returned they 
ime back and worked again but not so 
ithusiastically as before. Then came 
! e second snow-storm, during which 
e y again disappeared. On the next 
feasant morning they again returned 
|*d examined the hole they had made 
r a nest. They lingered for a few 
inutes in the branches of the tree, an- 
rently discussing the situation, then 
w away and have not been seen here 
Pice. 
! Soon an industrious pair of bluebirds 
| pied the deserted home and took pos¬ 
ition. Here they reared two broods, 
i ice while watching the bluebirds feed 
j" r young I noticed a nuthatch which 
is continually creeping around the en- 
nce to the nest. Once it entered the 
minutes. It then returned to the edge 
o 
of the hole where it sat for some time, 
looking around. During this time the 
bluebirds flew around among the 
branches close to the hole, uttering chirps 
of distress. We never discovered what 
damage, if any, it did as the hole is ten 
or fifteen feet above the ground. This 
is the only time that I have seen a nut¬ 
hatch disturb other birds. 
Another couple that visited us early in 
the spring was Mr. and Mrs. Peter, as 
we familiarly call the Baltimore orioles. 
1 hey built one of their queer hanging 
cradles in the topmost bough of a lovely 
little elm. How they flashed about the 
yard gathering bits of cotton and thread 
and string that the children hung in the 
apple-tree limbs for them! And 1 how 
Mr. Peter sang to his more soberly clad 
little mate as he swung on the slender 
branches of the elm. But one day a 
strong wind blew for an hour or so and 
shook the little nest fearfully. The little 
builders seemed to know that tiny eggs 
and tender nestlings would never be 
able to endure such rough treatment, so 
they left, the little home unfinished. 
Down in one of the clumps of lilacs 
hy the gate a pair of catbirds built a 
nest and reared their young. i hey were 
rather careless builders and mixed a 
great deal of song and merry-making 
with their work. Their nest was made 
