The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-06-21
HOMES OF THE BIRDS.
HOW THE FEATHERED SONGSTERS
BULDD THEI7c NESTS,
from The Laying Out of Patterns Until the
Last Twig is Put Into It's Place
Work of the Birds.


are not more or less familiar with Dlrds
Tests, for they are not Ey any means con-
fined to the country, but are to be found IN
the shade trees of every village street, to say
nothing Of the Old-time lilac hedges, goose
berry bushes and homely shrubbery Of fifty
years ago. Even in our large cities there
some few birds brave enough to make
their homes in or very near the busiest thor
orghfarcs AS an instance, it was not so
long ago that the yellow-breasted chats, a shy
bird, nested I'm the yard of the Pennsylvania
hospital at the corner Of Eighth and Spruce
streets, Philadelphia. and soon learned to
mimic many Il familiar street sound Such
instances rs these were more common before
the unfortunate blunder of introducing the
English sparrow.
But it is in the country only where
find boys really posted in the matter of nests,
and 1 wish L could add that they always
adopted the rule of Glands off, when these
nests come under their notice. 1t means far
more mischief than people think to disturb
a nest, and so let every boy decide that he
will not be guilty of such wanton cruelty.
This, however, does not shat off every boy
and girl in the land from studying these
nests, and q more delightful subject can never
come under youthful investigation.
What is birds nest? Every one knows
after fashion, and yet few have ever consid-
cred how much thar bunch of twigs, hollow
in tree, hole in the ground really means.
Like so much that is familiar, we glance at
it in careless way and never stop to cOnsid-
er Its full significance. Except in few
instances, a birds nest is never the result OF
q single individuals labor. Even if but one
bird does all the work, there has previously
been a decision reached by two birds where
the nest shall be placed, and how much this
means. At once we are brought to consider
that an interchange Of thought has taken
place The pair has discussed, literally, the
Ira Vh.p of
have had in mind not only their own safety
but that of their offspring. The fact that
they make mistakes, at times, proves this.
Were this not the case, or, If nests We're
placed haphaZard in any tree or bush or
anywhere on the ground, bird enemies would
have happy time for Il short season and
then birds, like many of the worlds huge
beasts, would become extinct. On the CON
trary, birds have long since learned to be
very careful and their ingenuity in this up
parently simple matter of choosing a nest
Site is simply astonishing This, too, has
resulted in quickening their wits In all d.
rections and the bird that Is really n BOBBY
Birds suffer at times from their misjudg
ment or over-confdence, and this, 1t must be
added, reflects upon u.s. The instances are
that certain people love them and they lose
all fear. Again. naturally very timid birds
soon learn when they are free from persecu-
ton. The writer frequently passes, In the
cars, by geological garden on the bank OF
a river and has been impressed with the
be noticed there. The crows have learned
that firearms are not allowed to be used any
where near and so they fearlessly hop about
not only the enclosure of the garden, but
the many tracks of the railroad just outside
showing no timidity even when the iocolno-
tives rush by. Stranger still, wild ducks
gather in the river almost directly under the
railroad bridge and do not always dive out
of sight as the trains pass by, and have
never seen them take wing, even If the wills
tie blew the quick, short, penetrating danger
signal
other enemies than man to guard against
and so are never in hurry in the matter OF
determining where to build. Time and
again IL location has been discovered unsuita-
Bile after nest has been commenced and the
structure abandoned. L have observed TINS
many times Indeed, my own curiosity has
ing my constant watching of what was gong
on. I we'll remember seating myself once;
in shady nook, TO eat my lunch, ana 1ound
myself almost attacked by pair OF black
and white tTee-Creepng warblcrs. Their nc
lions We're plainly protest against my stay
ing where L was and on looking about [
found / had almost sat upon their nest, which
then was just completed, but contained no
eggs. / visited the spot the next day and
mistake on my part, for the birds now be-
lieyed I had sinister designs and abandoned
their new made home.
much as the patterns of nests Even when the
same materials are used: they are differently
case, be merely thrown together as it were
While in another they are so carefully inter
laced that the structure is n basket and holds
together if held by the rim only Another
the same in general appearance, would I'M
medatey falI to pieces If similarly SIN lY freated
nests the rule will hold good, / think, that
where they are, very loosely put together the
locality is such that no natural disturbing
causes as high winds are likely to cause dis
aster. Until | studied this point the occur
renee of exceedingly frail nests was ever
of remembered
that the same species as catbrd or cardinal
redbird does not build after II uniform fashion,
but adapts its work to the spot chosen for the
nest 1t would be very hazardous to say that
a nest was built by this that BIRD unless
the builder seen in possession.
So difficult is it to watch n pair of birds
while building that the method of their
working is largely to be guessed at from
the work itself; but by means of Il field
glass good deal can be learned. 1t would
appear as If Il great many twlgs We're
brought for the foundation of q nest, such
as IL cat birds or song sparrow's that were
unsuitable. / have occasionally seen 4
twig tossed aside with tlirt of the head
very suggestive Of disappointment. The
builders do not always carry with them Il
distinct idea of what they want when hunt
ing for material, and 50 labor more than
would be necessary if a little wiser. Very
funny disputes, too, often arise and this is
most frequent when wrens are finishing
their huge STRUCTURES in box or some cor
ner of an outbuiding. A feather or bit
of thread, or ac small rag, Will be carried
in by one bird and passed out by the other
with a deal of scoding and loud words
that Is positively startling. But when the
frame work is finally completed of any or
binary open or cup-shaped nest, the lining
is not so difficult matter. Soft or yield
ing materials are used that to n greater or
less extent have a 'feting' property, and
by the birds weight alone assume the shape
desired. This sTfacitated by the bird in
two ways The builder sits down. as if
the eggs were already laid, and with its
beak pushes the loose material between it
and the frame work. and tucks odd bits
into any too open crevces. While doing
this it slowly moves around until it has de-
scribed complete circle. This again
brings out any defects i'll the outer struct-
ure and the bird can often be seen Juggling
away at some projecting end; or It's mate.
outside of the nest, rearranging q twig here
and there while the other bird-shall !
say-was giving directions.
Surprise has often been expressed that
the common chipping sparrow could so
neatly curl Il long horse hair into the lining
of its little nest. 1t can not be explained
perhaps, but we have at least Il cew to it.
Mere is one end of the hair snugly tucked
in among stouter materials. and them ask
the question Only-as the bird coils it about
the sides of the nest with it's beak, does it
break or dent it. or is there some chemical
effect produced by the birds saliva? The
hairs do not appear to be merely dry-curled,
for then they would uurOU when taken