Hela eee Cea b OUN@ Bia Le le N a 
A Summer Retrospect 
By BrertHA T. PATTEE 
In looking back over a summer that was notably lacking in bird ex- 
periences, either at home or away, and one in which the spring migration 
brought fewer birds to the pool and woodsy tangle in our yard than ever 
before, there were still a few happenings that seem worthy of record. 
Our crested flycatchers—which are the only birds that have ever occu- 
pied one of several Von Berlepsch style houses erected in our yard—were 
back again after two seasons’ absence. They were as ever very interesting 
to watch from the screened south porch, not more than twenty-five feet 
from the tree on which the box is placed. 
The pair first inspected the box on June second, and from then on 
was heard and seen every day. In about ten days we were sure that eggs 
were being laid, and soon it was evident that the female was sitting on them. 
The male sat on a small branch nearby, very watchful, and seemed always 
ready to “‘spell” her on the nest whenever she wished for a bit of sunshine 
or food. He was ever on the lookout for an intruder, and grew very fierce 
as the days progressed. A bluejay was savagely attacked several times, as 
were also some young flickers, who had to be severely punished before they 
understood that that particular tree was sacred ground, not to be touched. 
A redhead, too, was driven off. 
The male’s harsh call was heard in the distance, as he approached, but 
near the nest he was very quiet, except when he conversed in low tones to 
his mate, usually when he had just brought her a choice morsel to eat. 
On the 27th there was unusual excitement about the nest, and we knew 
that the babies had arrived. Both birds began to bring in tiny insects and 
we could hear the young inside, when feeding. A week later the sweet 
little whistles of the young could be heard distinctly from the porch, and 
each day they grew louder. The insect food grew larger, too, and one day 
a big butterfly went in. On July 11th a little head appeared at the hole 
and he soon was able to perch on the edge. He had a lovely soft yellow 
breast, and it was most interesting to see him turn and stretch his wings, 
first one, then the other. 
Next day, the 12th, the little fellow was at the hole early in the morn- 
ing, but had flown while we were at breakfast to a nearby tree, where we 
discovered him later. Peculiarly there seemed to be but one offspring. The 
flycatchers have used this box three different seasons. The 1926 record also 
says ‘‘only one youngster,” and the date of leaving the nest is the same, 
July 12th. Our flycatchers followed the family tradition, and each year 
we found the proverbial snakeskin when we investigated the nest after the 
birds had left. 
