The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-10-03
A Battle OF BIRDS.

The fact that bluebirds often take
possession of boxes reared for the
martins, is the cause of much con.
tention between the two species. But
the almost universal belief that the
bluebird is too much for the martin
is, according to my experience, very
incorrect. In this latitude bluebirds
often remain with us during the
winter, and they may always be
heard warbline their cheerful lays
the first warm days in February.
Soon they make and seek places IN
which to build their nests-a hollow
apple tree, a vacated woodpecker's
hole, martin box, or even gourd
with hole in it and placed few
feet above the ground is good enough
for them.
At first they are very timid, but
as nothing molests them they be-
come more bold. However. they
do not like to have near neighbors,
and the males often engage in fear
full combats even when their re-
spective places of abode are several
rods apart. They begin the attack
in the air, and falling to the ground
continue the struggle until entirely
exhausted. | have often approach
ed within a few feet of them and
watched them several minutes.
Sometimes they will lie by each
other painting for some time, and
then renew the engagement. But
the martin does not put in an ap-
pearance till late in March first the
males, and some days later the
females.
At first the martin is very timid,
especially the female, and where the
bluebirds have possession of a box
it is very easy generally to hold the
martins at bay, but no bluebird
would dare to make himself at home
in a box occupied by martins. But
sometimes the martins grow very
bold. In the spring the bluebirds
took possesson of the box which
stands in front of the door where |
am writing. We placed another box
about three rods distant from the
first box, which was soon occupied
by martins; a. first there was some
sparring between the birds, but final
" they settled down and | expected
everything to 90 on nicely, but one
evening Just before sundown another
male martin arrived, and at once
made an attack on the bluebirds,
which were then incubating. Sever
al times the birds fell to the ground,
but the martin is too high minded
to wallow in the dirt, so he was i'm
mediately on the wing. At nightfall
the bluebirds were in peaceful pos
session of their fort. The next morn
ing was up early to see if the
martins would renew the attack. In
a few moments the martin swooped
down to the box and were promptly
met by the bluebird. They flew
forcibly against each other and fell,
but the martin was up again and at
the box, followed by the bluebird.
Several times they came to the
ground, but each time the martin
sought the box. Soon the bluebird
paused a moment on the ground.
1t was fatsl pause. The martin
rOt into tho hoy and sat in ono of
the doors. The bluebird renewed
the fight, and got the martin by the
foot and drew him out, but like an
arrow he was in again. This time
he kept his feet out of the way and
presented his widespread jaws. Both
bluebirds flew at him, but he would
catch and hold them until they We're
glad to get away. All day the fight
was kept up, but that evening the
bluebirds retreated. In two or three
days the martin found a female
which took the precautiOn to throw
out the eggs of the bluebirds. Now,
all day the bluebirds sat on a peach
tree near by. uttering a plaintiff cry,
so | made another box and placed it
scarcely higher than my head. In
an hour the bluebirds were cheerful
and soon began to build. The young
bluebirds have been out several
days, and there are young martins
in the other box.