The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-04-02
THE SONG BIRDS OF MINNESOTA.
Gen. Baker Makes a Plea for Their
Preservation.
Our Other Birds Most Fully
Described.

days are coming, the DudS are SWELL
ing, and the song birds, those charm
ing harbingers of brighter days, will
soon be here from the orange groves
of the south. The song birds OF Min
nesota are.more numerous and melo-
dious than most think for. AS Lowell
beautifully says, 81 hold a season
ticket to the orchestra in the trees"
Let us call the roll and see what
treasures we have:
The Robin.
This is the most unaSsuming and
domestic Of birds, an early and uni
versal favorite. They are one of the
great American birds, being found
from Florida to the ST parallel of
latitude. There is no bird so dear to
childhood as robin red breast. 10
every family in America he is the
sweet precursor of spring. 1t is true
he does not stand high in the gallery
of musicians, but no one would have
this dear Old bird banished from the
land, because his noise is not as sweet
as that of the mocking bird. He is
like some women if not the most
beautiful: he has graces and general
goodness which make him more than
pretty. But the notes of the Robin
in spring are known and loved by all.
They come early to open up the great
bird concert which is about to burst
upon US from tree and thicket., The
gentleneSS of their manner, their
harmless lives, their fidelity to their
families, their cheerful ways and
fairly good singing endear robin-red-
breast to all, and plead with all hunts
men and naughty boys to spare his
good and useful life.
Meadow Lark.
/ have a warm heart for the good
old meadow lark. He abounds in our
pastures and meadows. You see him
sitting on the fence with his velvet
black neck-tie around his pretty
throat, and pouring forth long clear
and plaintive note that places him
we'll up among our best warblers.
Sportsmen will shoot this noble bird,
and I have seen them in the city
markets exposed for sale. For eating
they are classed next to quail. But l
do not envy the huntsman who can
murder this sweet singer, who does no
harm and only destroys insects and
useless seeds. Let us protect this
sweet voiced and bright plumaged
friend of our childhood.
Baltimore OrioIe.
OF all the pretty singing birds OF
passage that visit our state, none are
more welcome than the beautiful
oriole. His bright orange colors shine
through the green leaves in wonderful
beauty. He builds his swinging nest
in the weeping willows on the droop-
ing branches of large elm, where
they hang like castles 10 the air."
They build the true pensile nest He
is a skillful architect and interweaves
his material in the most artful man.
ner, and makes sort of canopy over
the whole house. This pendulous
style of nest gives them security from
invaders, and the waving breezes rock
them to repose. He comes to our
northern homes like bright messen-
ger from the tropics. His clear, mel
low whistle is delightful. Woe to him
who would kill this chirruping visitor.
1 sometimes see his beautiful wings
and even his whole body on a ladies
hat. instantly feel that "a murder
most foul" has been committed. And
the woman who will countenance
their destruction for purpose of beauty
becomes thereby a party to the
murder. "Woodman, spare that tree"
and spare the oriole in it's branches
The Red Bird.
Our summer birds would be incom-
plete without mention of the red bird
with his vermillion coat. He is bug
eater and strong sonorous singer. |
He can reach the notes of the
fife. His mate is dressed in plain
drab and quite incunspicuous as a
singer. Why is it that the females of |
all these splendid feathered birds and
fine singers are so plain of dress and
so mute of voice. Things don't run
that way among the human species.
The girls have the beautiful clothes
and the boys appear in subdued gar
ments. Let US hold on to our red
birds; they give us a touch of the
tropics.
The Wren.
Let us not overlook the dear little
domestic wren. He will build his nest
right under your caves or in an old hat,
or in little box on the end of pole.
He will sing and MARBLE in your very
ears. He hates cats. On the farm we
used to dine on the piazza, and this
social little singer would come right
ouor o,r haadc fn foo1 tho uo,1pr |