Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-15
BIRDS IN THE WINTER.
Provision Made by Kind Nature
for Their Sustenanoe.
WOODS FULL OF FOOD.
Pine aud Hennlock Cones, Wax Coated
Berries, Weeds and Grasses
Hold a Full Supply.

When the summer is past and the
young birds have been safely reared to
maturity, the great tide of bird migra-
ton begins to set backward from the
Northern woods. This is the time of
year when frugal nature forgets her
economies and is in Il bountcous mood.
Through the long summer days and sun,
ny autumn, while insects and caterpilars
furnished ample repasts for her feath-
cred children, she was accommodating
treasures Of SEEDS, grain and berries
against the return of the wanderers, to
whom she gave sucn stinted largesS in
the spring Nearly every tree, shrub
and vine holds store of food All the
gay meadow possessions of the past sea-
son-grasS, Sedge and Haunting flowers,
even coarse and unSghtly weeds-arc
heavy with harvest. This is the season
when birds need generous diet. They
are thin and worn with the care of
young and the moulting and renewal OF
their plumage. Why wonder if they
give themselves up to banqueting?
At this time families are broken up
The various tribes gather in hocks, for
getting their song, and proceed leisurely
to literally cat their way through to the
South. The insect-ea pass through
seed and berry eaters remain until driv-
en- southwark by the cold Numerous as
these are, it is impossible for them to ex-
haust the seeds. but by the time the last
travellers have departed most of the Der,
rles are consumed. Al the low-growing
varieties of cornus-white, black and
blue berries-are swept clean. One
morning you may find tree of cornus
florida literally alive with robins and
GOLDEN winged w0odpeckers and an hour
later not berry of its shining red coral
will be left.
The ash trees bear a wealth of winged
seeds fashioned like tiny Indian paddles
These hold out for perhaps a month, but
even they gradually disappear, until
naught Is left of summers garnering but
Il shower of empty seed cases beneath
the trees Successive flocks of hungry
birds hold high revels here One day it
will he the pine fncheS. on another the
chatterlng. thistle birds, and again the
redpod llnnetS, their ROSY Dlumagc
greamlng like satin in the morning sun.
Out IN the open fields and rOadways
numerous Hooks of the sparrow family
ind rich harvesting. Great patches Of
plgweed and climbing false buckwheat
form tangled coverts where security and
plenty are assured. A quiet approach 10
one of these spots will afford a sunrise
Not a feather is in sight, but beneath
you can hear the birds feeding. the
cracking of seeds and the clicking of in
Vulnerable little bills swelling to quite a
volume of sound. Shake the thicket and
out rush the birds with a great whirring
OF wings; Tree sparrows. white threats,
song ana swamp SparrOwS. gOldfncheS
and JuScos are there. the twinkling white
feathers of the latter showing consnicu-
ously as they pitch about in their pecu-
liar flight. For a moment they appear
IKE a torrent of leaves swept before
November gale, and then disappear in the
next tangle of weeds.
For the most part the birds feed silent
~, but the tree sparrows always sing
ught little notes, sweet and tinkling
W hen November has passed most of the
summer visitors and birds of passage
have departed for the South. that land
of plenty and perpetual summer. Were
II not for this wise provision of nature
the food supply, great as il is would not
hold out until the coming of another
warm season.
Under the working of this migratory
impulse there is comparatively plenty left
for the winter residents Pines and hem
locks hold within each scale of their
cones the tiny nuts which the hooked
mandibles of those erratic wanderers, the
croSShillS. will open later. The waxwing
likewise has his own special preserves.
There are the blue-green berries of the
cedar and the frozen fruits of orchards
ana wiz apple trees winch grow IN thick
cts and hpdgerowS. The waXwing is the
cultured gentleman of his tribe. quiet of
tone. gentle and refined in manners. new
or quarreling over his food.
\ friend assures me he has seen a row
of these birds sitting on a bough and
Systematically passing frozen crabappe
up and down the line, each one taking a
bite and passing it on to the next. just
as convivial souls would send around
bottle. That was in the hungry time of
the year. too, when the instinct of self
preservation might well engender selfish
ness.
The fruit Of he Sumac and bitterswcet
seemed to be reserved for necessity, for
only late in the spring, when food is
scarce. have l seen any birds attempt to
eat it; but the white berries of the poison
ivy are acceptable to many of the tincheS
Almost anything will do for the Jays and
crows They are omniverous. taking any