Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-11-10
WISCONSIN, HenoNs.
The Nests For III ir Young and Method
Of Housekeeping.

The Nests For III ir Young and Methods
Of Housekeeping.
On the way over We had noticed
scattering flight Of berons centering still
farther up the forks. and from the hard
wood ridge We could discern. now and
then, number coming ard going from
the North Fork and its branches, Tho
two lines apparently met over half
section of tall pine timber about two
miles to the south of east of our camp,
but as it was now dusk and showery
we prepared supper and turned in for
the night
Four o'clock next morning found US
mp. breakfast cooked and ready for the
voyage Of discovery. and voyage it
proved to be, with mud at times ankle
deep. and every leaf supporting great
drops of water, drenching us to the skin
in a few momeiitS
Instead Of keeping around to the
right, where the herons seemed to Fly.
wo made short cut through tho greet
pines. whose tops lowered full 100 foot
above our heads with bat little UNDER
brush beneath As We rested among
these grand columns no wonder we all
echoed tho doctors sentiment when he
remarked, III were squirrel, this is
just the place would live, aud would
like to stay here month anyway"
Gradually working our way toward
the south edge of the pines, all at once
harsh. grunting, croaking sound
greeted our ears, and We stopped to lis
ten. Then n louder combination still
nearer, another of to the left, then hals
dozen. which from distance seemed
not unlike great many hogs aghtinS
grunting and squeahng, confirmed Our
surmiso that tho roost was at hand
We soon discovered that every Pine
for distance of perhaps two acres con-
tanned q large stick nest. not flat and
spread cut like the nests in the trees in
Florida. but huge round affair largo
and deep ON the outside as a bushcl hss-
ket, not ON tho fiat surfaces Of spread
ing branches. but right in the very top
where the tree separates tomany parts
In one case where tfco formed into
two great forks 80 feet from tho ground
the top of each contained a nest, while
third nest was placed lower down On
tho side shoot This truo and one other
which spread out into a broad. fiat top
were the only ones containing three
nests. although quito anunbcr had two
There were usually three young 60 q
nest and they stood upright on the nest
or on branches level with It near b.,
and upon the arrival Of the parent would
all scramble into tho nest, soitsng ZIP.
meanwhile, n great squawking grunt.
ing sound, in volume hardly TO DO
expected from three birds
The cid bird usually nlightol on tho
smaller branches near tho nest, proceed
ing Immediately 10 g. thrusting her
bill we'll into the outsirotched throat OF
the nearest, the heads ardnecls Of both
birds weaving back and forth during tho
process. the other two keeping up mn in
fernal signalling all the while As soon
as tho bill was withdrawn another bird
was served in the same manner, while
the third made vain offort 60 get his
bin down the throat Of the one just fed
which would indicate that such thofis
might be successfully made
The old birds were constantly coming
and going, and therefore tie cumh'na.
tons Of noises wero almost coustanS
from ono part on other Of the hcfonr5,
the noise coming only fgoin nests where
birds were being fed. IN The trco with
three nests, tho birds in tho nest being
fed made the usual outory, but those la
the remaining nests, not ten feet away,
paid no attention TO t.
Tho young birds wero nearly full
iedged and about ready to leave tho
nests, and when standing upon tho
branches were hardly distinguishhhlo
from the old birds. except by oloso Ok
animation Of the feathers Of the breast,
which did not have the dashas Of as
deep black as the old birds.
We attempted 10 secure q SET Of young
TO mount for the local high school NM
scum, bat when shot they invariably
fiuttered and scrambled abort. iirally
landing ON tho nest - Forest AID
Stream.