Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-06-27
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
How Birds Fight Squirrels.

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interested in watching two bluebirds
building Il nest in q box under the
piazza roof. Day after day they
labored diligently till the nest was
completed, and ! thought soon to
have some little brides to watch.
But one morning when l came out
upon the piazza l found the dear
little nest all pulled out of tho box,
part of it hanging from the edge,
and the rest tumbled about on the
floor. 'Oh, who has done thisV l
called out. WHO can have spoiled
my nestT
"The gardener heard me; and
coming up, said, 'The squirrel, if
you please, ma'am. l saw him run
down from the box. when l frigh
tened him by coming to tie up the
big honeysuckle.'
"Oh, why didn't you come soon.
er, and what made him do itY l
said.
"'Wcll, ma'am, I'd have come if
Fd had known; but squirrels is so
fierce against bluebirds that if I'd
have stopped him to day, he'd done
it Tomorrow.
"' But, what makes him 2 l ask.
ed again
80 couldn't say, ma'am but I'm
thinking it must be his nature
There were many bluebirds about
two years ago, ma'am but now
they are right scarce, and It's all
along of the squirrels.' So saying.
he went to his work ; and l look
ed sadly at the little scraps of
the nest blowing away so quick
ly. { Will they come back, l thought
and build another ? But they never
did, and my little house was empty
all summer. Now you will see the
reason of the funny fight | am 60
ing to tell you of. One bright after
noon when Uncle Harry was push
ing me in my wheel chair around
the garden, (for l am an invalid),
we heard a very queer noise round
the corner of the house. 1t sound
ed like two or three noises all at
once. There was a fierce chirruping
and an angry chattering, and every
few moments sharp cry of pain.
Both together, Uncle Harry and l
cried out: It's squirrel-lt's a
bird ? and, as he pushed me quickly
to the corner of the house, we found
we were both right. There, half.
way up Il tall tree, was little red
squirrel, going up as fast as he
could, chattering all the time; and
as near to him as you are to me,
Jack, was little bluebird chasing
him up. Such a ferce-loOking little
thing she was-all her feathers
standing straight up, her bill wide
open, and such angry little noises
coming out of it! Now and then
she would fly at him, and by her
sharp nip make him give the shrill
squeak we had heard. Very soon
they reached the top of the tree,
where they turned, and down they
came just as they went up, across a
little piece of grass, bluebird keep
ing along close over squirrels head,
and squirrel aiming for another
tree. Up the second tree, and down
again, across more grass, bluebird
growing Drawer and fiercer as squir-
rell grew more and more frightened.
Up third tree and down we saw
them go and then bluebird seemed
to think she had done enough. She
had driven him far away from her
nest, and felt sure she had given
him a pretty good fright so she let
him. But Uncle Harry ran to the
back of the house, to see the last of
poor Bunny and came back laugh.
ing, to tell me that robin had fin.
ished the bluebirds work, and fair
ly driven the enemy down the steep
hill and off the place. One thing
more I'll tell you, and then l must
stop for today. While we were
busily watching this battle, we
heard a slight sound on the lawn,
and there came little army ofhens
slowly, one by one, except
that the last three had hurried up
side by side, for fear they should be
ate. Every neck was stretched out
and every eye fixed on the funny
fight before them; and then looked
,s deeply interested as you would
nave done if you had been there
90. That's all. So now, Jack,
ump down and spin your top; and,
1racie, move little so that can