KNOWING THE 
WINTER. BIRDS 
by fletOerl K_ Job 
Author of The Spot of Bird Study 
Photographs by the Author 
PON tthe approach of cold 
weather the woodchuck, 
dreading the sting of frost, 
shuts himself up in_ his 
stuffy burrow, to appear no 
more till the proverbial 
day when he is supposed to venture out 
to look for a sign of spring; even then, 
seeing his shadow, he may retire for 
another six weeks of poor ventilation. 
Curiously enough there are many peo- 
ple like the woodchuck in this regard, 
who think that winter is no time to be 
outdoors. Unless forced to an occa- 
sional exit, they are “‘shut-ins.” 
At best they but venture from house 
to house or for a short walk in a city 
street. “Lhe long “exposure” to over- 
heated and ill-ventilated rooms and to 
the ravages of the sedentary life is a 
most dangerous ordeal, producing weak- 
ness and inviting the attack of disease. 
Winter is a glorious time for active ex- 
ercise outdoors, in some respects even 
better than summer, and if an_ in- 
terest in the birds can provide an incen- 
tive to draw people to the wintry land- 
scape and set them, now and then, to 
scouring the open, it will be sufficiently 
justified. 
It must be admitted, however, that 
the scarcity of birds in winter in nearly 
all localities, save in the far South, tends 
to discourage many from the quest. 
Yet there are quite a number of species 
which winter even in the northern or 
middle districts, hardy creatures which 
are able to withstand rigorous condi- 
tions of temperature, storm, and scar- 
” 
PERCHED ON SOME CONSPICUOUS 
IS THE RED-TAILED HAWK. 
TREE 
city of food. A wonderfully good idea 
of what birds are to be found in differ- 
ent parts of the country on a winter’s 
walk can be gathered by reading in 
the January-February number of Bird- 
Lore each year the reports of the 
“Christmas Bird-Census.” 
The number of species seen by vari- 
ous observers in a day is usually from 
about six to eighteen, sometimes more— 
usually more on the coast, in the South, 
and on the Pacific Slope. At times, one 
will hardly see a living thing, but if 
one has acquired an interest in birds, 
their very scarcity will make the appear- 
ance of the few all the more welcome. 
The sight even of a single interesting 
individual under these conditions will 
give a feeling of. pleasure more vivid 
than might be aroused by many a song- 
ster in May. 
The birds to be seen on a genuine 
winter outing are not all the reward. 
There is a keen joy in ranging the leaf- 
less woods and looking through vistas 
624 
