Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-06
WESTINGHOUSE BIRDS.
Feathered Beauties One Can See in
the Parks and Field.
THE WOODLAND CHORUS.
The Ornithology Of the District-Birds Noted
for Song and Others Famed for Beauty
Which One Can See in Walks About the
Capital.
Written for The Evening Star.

Washington are alive with birds of many
species and Of varied plumage. The birds
usually return to us from the south during
this period and they tarry to nest, feed, gossip
and sing on their way northward.
Toward the end Of May and first of June the
great majority Of them are here, the swallows.
the handsome orioles, the robins, the wood
thrushes, the redbirds, the sparrows, the
blackbirds, the meadow larks, the bluebirds.
the hnnets and fnches the catbirds, the fly
catchers the buntings, the verios or greenlets,
the humming birds, the nuthatches the reed
birds, the warblers and the wrens being con-
spicuous and active.
In the fall the birds pay us another brief
visit on their return south. but on this occa-
sion they do not exercise their vocal powers to
any great extent.
THE BIRDS AND THE FLOWERS.
Any close observer of the habits Of birds
and Wild flowers must be impressed with the
many instances Of mutual social attachment
and companionship which their movements
exhibit. That certain flowers and birds appear
simultaneously in our fields is o fact worthy of
note. The violet blossom assures us that robin
redbreast is not far off. while the first daisy
that smiles above ground receives q warm
warbler greeting.
The early spring before the trees take on their
dense foliage, is the best time to watch the
Dlrds. We can then see many q sight that is
hidden from us later in the season. The art
and mysteries of nest building are revealed to
our movements. While the workers are too
busy to be easily disturbed, they are ever on
the lookout, and quickly pass the word of alarm
along on the discovery Of an intruder. They
are merry In their labor, and the melodies of
the vocalists among them are mingled with the
n hat ia off hal aco friTt
Most birds nest in May or June and il ia
then, during love season, that their plumage is
nandsomest and their music sweetest Some
species cease singing after their offspring is out
OF the nest. This is notably the case with the
great-crested hycatcher, one Of the best sing
ers of its genus Audubon saws that this bird
lthe male) during love and as long as
ne Is paving his address to his mate or proving
to her that he is happy in her society, is heard
Tor hours both at early dawn and sometimes
aI.er sunset, but as soon as the young are out
the whole family are mute.
Comparatively few of the birds make their
winter home here. The hermit thrush, some
OF the buntings, the kinglet, the sparrows. the
yeLow-rumped warbler, the cardinal grosbeak
the tltmice, the winter wren and an occasional
roDln, nearly comprise our list Of local winter
birds.
IN THE PUBLIC PARKS.
Birds prefer, for feeding and recreation. the
count the public parks about the city are pop
uIar resorts for them. Great numbers and
varieties of birds visit these attractive places
during spring, summer and autumn. No bet
ter place can be found for studying the habits
&c, OF the birds than the Smithsonian Park
IL one is at a loss to identify particular spe-
Gle he has only to step into the old building
over In the south end OF the park, where he
will be sure to find his bird properly labeled.
The Smithsonian building contains the largest
and choicest collection of stuffed birds in the
United States.
The green swards Of Agricultural Park at
tract numbers Of robbins thrushes and black
birds
Birds cannot be satisfactorily studied from
the books natural experience with them is
necessary to correct understanding of their
habits, characteristics, &C.
The female bird of every species is usually
smaller than the male, her color tints being
also less pronounced. OF course there are
many exceptions to this rule.
1t would be impossible within the limits of a
newspaper article to specially describe each
species Of bird that visits the District of
Columbia annually. will. therefore, content
myself with few brief observations concern
ing some of the best known and most interest
ing Of them.
THE BLACKBIRDs.
The rollicking blackbirds appear in force by
the LIST Of March and are fond Of the city parks
In the trees of which they nest and breed.
They wear glossy, snowy coats and strut about
pompously with an air that saws: 1--WE are
handsome and graceful and we want you to
know it,
There is no music in the hoarse squeak of the
Dlackolrd, but he Is amiable and minds his
own business. He seems to be chummy with
his cousin, gentle robin.
THE CowBIRD
ri
bird, not for vocal abilities for it has no voice
tor music, but because Of its peculiar habits
In form it is closely allied to the crow black
bird, but unlike that bird it makes no nest of
Its own, but deposits its eggs in other birds
nests, one at time, as opportunity offers The
nests usually selected are those of the blue-
bird, yellow bird, hycatchers and thrushes.
another popularity of this bird is found in
the fact that it does not pair. 1t is in this re.
spect sort of free lover or biyamist. each
male paying his devotions to numerous females
during love season.
The cowbird appears here early in the
spring and remains all summer, many of the
species wintering with US
THE ORIOLES.
The beautiful, sweet-voiced orioles add
greatly to the charms of our parks. gardens
and fields in springtime. They are, perhaps
the most beautiful of our summer yisitors
ineir movements, as they run among the
branches OF the trees, are peculiar, often cling
ing by the feet as they reach for insects They
are fond OF billy, watered ground The nest
Is suspended from the branches of trees
THE REEDBIRD,
(the bobolink of the north and the ricebird Of
the SOUTH, appears here early in spring, the
male gayly clad in full dress and in full song.
This bird. it is said. excels the English skylark
in the vivacity of his song. 1t does not stay
long and while with us resorts to the grass
fields outside Of the city, where it feeds. They
migrate In hocks by night, when their call is
distinctly heard. They disappear in Nav and
appear again In September on their return to
the south. They nest north of US.
THE BLUEBIRD,
with his bright azure top plumage and grayish
white lower parts, is familiar to every person
and cannot be COMPOUNDED with any other bird.
He arrives in March and is often seen in the
parks, gardens and yards and sometimes nests
in the caves and crevices of houses. No bird
shows greater devotion to his mate and Young
for their protection. This trait has given him
relsome and on account of his warlike attitude
toward his neighbors he is called the 'soldier of
the bird world" The song of the bluebird is
q soft, agreeable MARBLE.
THE cATBrRD.
To those who are not privileged to hear the
natural notes Of that prince Of feathered art
lists, the mocking bird, the medley Of his imi-
tator and first cOusin the saucy cat in most