The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-25
Moving Time In BirdIand.

The moving season has begun 10 the
bird world, and great numbers Of the
little wanderers are returning from
their winter vacations TO the places
which were made brighter By their
presence year ago Among the first
birds to come back were the blackbirds.
They came, as they always do, in
flocks and seemed to know just where
to locate, and many haunts which they
chose as their homes last year are al
ready occupied by the black advance
agents OF the warm season.
Their vacations were spent in the
Carolinas, Georgia and Florida" said
John ID. Hicks, who is q careful OBJ.
server Of the birds Of this country,
and their actions when they come
back here seem to say that they are
glad to be here again. They seem to
like company, and are always in focks,
many often nesting in the same tree.
They never fight, and live peaceful,
quiet lives, even through the days Of
courtship, term which with some
birds is productive Of much discord
and conflict
People who have had an opportunity
to study the ways Of the blackbird in
the courting time know that, despite
his love Of peace, he is anxious to make
conquest, and in these his plumage
plays the important part. The male
bird struts and hops where the sun
will show his feathers off to the best
advantage. These look purple, jet
black, bronze and brown from various
points of view. He ruffles his feathers,
and, like dandy, misses no occasion
to make his appearance striking, until
ne has made an impression on some
female when he relapses into the same
state OF Indifference as to his personal
appearance which often characterizes
men whose faultless dress was their
Distinguishing character in their days.
he AtOOlNb w OD1NU.
The robin, which has also come for
the season, is more richly endowed by
nature than the blackbird as to plum
age, but makes no effort at conquest
by means of his personal appearance.
Fine feathers are Of no consequence in
the eyes Of Miss Robin, aud G. Robin
knows it.
These birds have many peculiar
traits. They come from the south in
pairs and singly, how and when nobody
knows. The flight is usually made at
night, and chirp in sho early morn
ing is the first sign that the robins
have come again. They go to the
country or to places where there are
lawns or orchards, and in the selec-
tion Of their summer homes they
show decided learning toward the
habitations of man. The robin must
have its mate, for he believes in do
mestic bliss, and he sets about the
task of househunting soon after the
summer homo has been reached. His
wooing is Of barbario nature, and
requires pluck and perseverance,. He
picks quarrel vi.h another mais
bird in the presence Of female, aud,
knowing that he is fighting for home,
he fights hard. The lady sits near
by apparently unconcerned and un-
conscious Of whist is going on, but
she always has On eye on the contest,
the result OF which is usually an en-
gagement in Robinland with the vic
torious combatant as the bridegroom
elect.
Then the female makes active
preparations for housekeeping. Her
nest is built after the regulation pat.
tern, Of straw and mud, and the inner
wall is made perfectly round by the
pressure Of the builders body against
the soft and pliable material. Mrs.
Robin is an industrious hc lsekeeper,
and works incessantly ur Ill the home
is made ready for occupancy. The
nest is usually built in an out.of-
the-way place, but the site is not
always skillfully selected, and often
comes within the reach Of the small
boy.
SONG SpARRows.
When one hears number Of song
spairows chirping sweetly at this time
of the year he may know that some
where near by lady sparrow is the
audience, and that the concert is
being given for her benefit; that each
singer is doing his best to outsing the