The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-08
NESTS ON TALL BUILDINGS.
skyscrapers Are Favorite Places for the
Birds of Cities.
Our Animal Friends.


From Our Animal Friends.
Since the tall Office buildings have
come into vogue the sparrows have
gone upward to build their nests, and
broods are reared every season 100 feet
or more above the street. The young
1edglings are safe from cats and an
noying small boys, but their security in
that respect Is Offset by the danger of
falling out OF the nest. The parent birds
are so fearful of such an accident that
one or the other stands on guard at all
hour of the day. When the time APP
~proaches for the young birds TO fly the
parents show their anxiety in many
their young to remain In their nests I'M
I'll their wings are strong enough to sup
port them; but IL one should flop out
before the proper time the two old birds
go to the rescue.
An instance Of this kin happened a
few days ago at the old Trinity. The
steeple Of the church Is a favorite breed
ing place OF the sparrows. and clum-
sy nests are poked away in every nook
and corner. In a nest perched nearly
up to the cross that surmounts the stee-
pie h second brood OF young SPAR
rows have just reached the flying age,
and the other day the oremo young
ster Topped over the side OF the nest
and came tumbling down to the hard
pavement below. His vain efforts TO
use his wings only multiplied his strange
gyration through the air, but before ne
could reach the ground the two parent
sparrows had darted down in time TO
receive him on their backs.
1t was impossible for them to fly with
the bird on their shoulders. but they
glided slowly downward with wings
outspread until they reached the top OF
the trees, where they managed to land
the youngster safely among the shelter
ing branches. Then they CAV a chirp
of delight and returned to the nest
to warn the others against any such
foolhardy venture.
The first lessons In flying are very diff
ficult for young birds reared In such
high homes. The first flight Of a fiedg-
ling must of a necessity be short, and
IL he should attempt to fly downward
to the streets below he would undoubt-
eddy plunge rwa with uch impetu-
osity as to kill him when he reached
the pavement. Consequently the parent
birds direct the first night. either to a
neighboring roof a short distance below.
or. IL the high building stands alone.
they teach the fiedgiing to jump from
their nest first straight out and then
upward. n at last back again toward
the building. They thus describe an up
ward circle n land with a flop upon
the roof.
On THESE tail roofs the young pfrds re-
ceive their regular lessons. flying back
and forth In perfect safety. with neith-
er cats nor small boys 10 disturb them,
and there they remain until their
strength and their wings are fully de-
veloped. Then they are taught to fly
down to the roofs below, and from there
to the streets.
The first attempts to the young birds
to fly from their nests to the roof over
head are amusing. They jump out in
to space. and fiutter with uncertain
flight upward. and then attempt TO turn
a sharp angle. They are not always
successful. and sometimes begin to des-
cend before they have reached the edge
of the roof: but II there IN danger of
their missing II the parent birds nop
against them with such force as TO
knock them several feet toward the
building. II is a rude way to treat the
little ones, but II In safe and effectual.
China firing. r.. 50 Silver Bow block.
sMOKE ROBERT MANTELL CIGARS