New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-18
BIRDS As ARCHITECTS.
THEIR INGENUITY IN NEST BUHDrNo--lN-
FLUENCED BY ENVIRONMENT.

THEIR INGENUITY IN NEST BUnD1NG-IN-
FLUENCED BY ENVIRONMENT
"A careful examination of a birds nest will con-
vince any one that 1t is work Of art one can
not help wondering at the ingenuity displayed oy
It's architect How carefully bird adaptS ltseH 70
environment is well illustrated by endless OK
anples: The red winged blackbirds, whose nests
are usually built among reeds, hags or business
make their nests very much deeper when the P'sce
selected is subject to very strong winds thah IN
more sheltered spots; and then as future sALe-
guard, the Of the nest contracts so that the
eggs will not fall out when the flags are sWayeo
by the wind. Some birds readily avail them
selves Of new and favorable conditions" says a
Radcliffe Dugmore in Bird Homes"
The phoebe formerly built it's nest exclusively
on rocks. but now that houses and bridges are TO
be found throughout the country this bird has. 70
a great extent changed it's former custom, ana II
now builds nests on almost any sort Of structure
built by man This also applies to the barn swal-
low, while the chimney swift has taken possession
or our chimneys and almost torsaken the hoiloW
bi7+ tIuhs IN when but few years "a rnany
other birds sucn as the meadow lark and some of
tue sparrows often arch their homes over WIN WIN
either the growing vegetation surrounding the neSI
or with dry material brought for the purpose ana
IN some cases they build covered paths or en-
The crested fycatcher often makes use OF
snakeskln IN the construction OF It's nest wlte1
hummingbird saddles It's tiny nest on high branch
and covers it with lichen so that It resembles an
oriole hangs his well built nest, a masterpiece Of
bird architecture, the extreme end OF an over
hanging branch. where nothing out winged en-
envy can reach it To guard against these, the neSt
Is made that it looks something ike hornet
nest, with which the jays, crows or hawks ~olld
not care to Interfere. The eggs CT the
beited kingisher are placed in hole, often sig or
eight feet deep, excavated in a bank by the olrds
themselves, after much two weeks WORK
The tailor birds the edges of large, growing
leaf round the that IT is absolutely hldden
from view. The bower birds use queer materials
such bones, pieces Of metal, shells, etc
The Baltimore oriole is one Of the most ingenious
OF bird architects, and employs material that Is
accessible String, hair, grasses and plant nores
often used, and bird lover tells Of nest
made completely Of silk thrown from the windows
Of a neighbortng silk factory.
In the bright pIumaged birds OF the temperate
region the brilliant coloring is usually localized
The common bIuebird mas head, back. wings and
tail of brightest, pures blue, but the breast IS rus
set and the under parts white The al blue oIros
the indigo bird and the grosbeak
Yellow is common color on parts or the plum
age, but only yellow bird even approximate
freedom from other colors. That is the little yell
low warbler, which has but slight markings OF
russell and olive. The cardinal grosbeak, the sum
redbird and the scarlet tanager are almost
wholly red The first has ring Of black around
the bill, the second has wings shading to Drown
and the third has black wings and tail, while the
rest OF his plunage is Of the most brilliant scarlet