The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-08
THE VALIANT KiNGBIRD,
He Is the Policeman of the Whole Bird
Family,

Family.
Any one who is at all interested in
municipal regulations and devices for
defending the public from the ravages
of thieves and vagabonds would do well
to study the bird methods of policing
New York state orchard. If this seems
a peculiar suggestion to any person, let
him go forth and use his powers of OBJ
servation. No place is more popular
with birds than an old orchard. The
various insects that conduct such a
thriving business in destroying the
fruitgrowers chances for crop make
very palatable food for the feathered
kind. while the bushy treetops contain
the finest of sites for summer homes.
Now and then a decayed limb, neglect
ed by the pruner, furnishes place
wherein Woodpecker may carve out
his habitation, a little round room,
whose owner, st. Nicholas-like, always
comes and goes by the chimney.
To see this police work at it's best
walk quietly into an orchard on some
sultry summer day. Cautiously as you
make your entrance, you cannot do it
| unannounced. 1t may escape your no
tice. but sundry twitters and chirps
have gone the rounds from tree to tree,
saying: Here comes a fellow who will
bear watching" Sit down in the shade
of tree and see what happens. After
g
not chirp breaks the silence. No
birds are visible save on a dead branch
that stands out above the top of an old
apple tree in front of you, where a
trim-looking fellow-slightly smaller
than a robin--sits apparently doing in
the sunshine. He is a sober, gray-col-
ored chap with a glistening white
breast and a dark crest that can be
raised and depressed at will. A mo-
ment's attention, however, convinces
you that he is anything but dozer.
His body is. still, but those quick, alert
turns of the head soon show that moth
ing in his part of the neighborhood es-
capes his notice. Nor should 1t, for is
he not the chief of police of the orch
ard, and has not his title of king bird"
been won by deeds of nerve and daring
unsurpassed? He is quiet enough just
now, but let fly or mosquito or little
moth miller try to pass within 10 feet of
him and see whether he can hunt on
the wing or not.
There is a noise and hubbub at the
other end of the orchard. A robin
chirps, a gold-finch complains loudly
and a little fly catcher says "Chebec"
in a very rapid and surprised way.
Some reason for all that row. A great
-shouldered hawk, big enough to
carry away spring chicken, comes
Tapping along just above the tree tops.
See Mr.. Kingbird now. At the first
warning chirp his crest goes up to a
peak. At the second he is circliug in
the air uttering sharp, metallic chirp
that seems to say, "All right, boys. I'm
here. Don't be scared, but lie low and
watch me run him out of town.
An instants poise, and then, as a
torpedo boat might dash at a battle
ship, he is off. Keeping well above the
hawk, from this point of vantage he
makes a series of sallies, dashing down
between the great wings, swapping his
beak within a hands breadth Of the
robbers eyes, the while uttering vol
ley of strident vocal billingsgate that
would shame a cab driver. The hawk
seems 20 feel the truth and justice or
the remarks, for in the most sheepish
and hasty way he flaps along, showing
no sign of hostility, now and again
darling to this side or that, as If to
avoid his insignificant prosecutor, who
follows him in every turn and twist
until he has escorted him well out of
the orchard and several fields beyond.
Then Mr.. Kingbird returns to his perch
on the dry branch, fiirts his wings from
time to time, and utters an occasional
indignant chirp, as though to say, Dld
one ever see such impudence? Didn't
/ put him out in hurry
If you care to know just now the
hawk felt, walk over to yonder apple
tree and climb up among It's oranches.
Out toward the end of limb you see
a shallow but compact nest containing
four eggs of rich cream color blotched
and dashed with dark brown. Get
little closer and now you can apprecl-
ate the hawks position, for there is
such confusion of tongues around
your head and within yard of your
eyes that you nearly fall out of the
tree. Not only the chief of police. but
his wife also, resents your familiarity,
and like some other animals, the fe-
males can even outtalk the males. You
begin to feel thoroughly ashamed of
yourself, and you descend to the
ground with much respect for the pluck
of the kngbird and sympathy for the
hawk, who cannot fly within hundred
yards of an orchard without this little
midget in his eyes to spoil his sport
and disturb his meditations.
The kingbird is not all fight, Be
tween times he is very busy extermin-
ating insects that come his way, and
the amount of execution he does makes
him a valuable friend to the fruit
grower, But no matter how busy he
may be with entomology or domestic
duties, he is always on the alert, and
let any suspicious looking stranger ap-
proach. be it hawk, crow or other en-
envy, and all business is suspended I'M
til the interloper is escorted to safe
distance and the peace of the commu-
nifty is assured. He is sure to detect any
signs of danger.
There are other birds that will fight
we'll when their own homes are attack
ed. A robin will make life miserable
for a red squirrel or a crow or jay.
A wren will swear as vile d string or
oaths as one can imagine and even the
modest vireos can scold. But the king
bird differs from all in his wider point
of view. Not his home only, but the
homes of his neighbors are care to
him. He takes pride in his own door
yard, but also in the condition of the
whole settlement. He is a public spir-
tied, aggressive citizen. who is not
afraid of responsibility, and hestates
at nothing that the dignity of the COM
monwealth may be maintained.-Ne