New-York tribune., 1900-04-15
MOVING TIMEIN RIRDLAND
RETURNING FROM WINTER VACATIONS.
COURTING AND HOUSEBUILDING-


tions TO the places which made brighter
/ by their presence a year ago. Among the first
/ birds TO come back We're the backbirds. They
came, they always do in hocks and seemed
( to know just where to locate, ANA many haunts
which they chose as their homes last year are
already occupied by the black advance agents
Of the warm season
Their vacations were spent in the Caroiinas,
Georgia and Florida" said John D. Hicks, who
is careful observer 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 always in
hocks. many often nesting in the same tree.
They never fight, and live peaceful quiet lives,
even through the days of courtship. a term
which with some birds is produ ctive Of much
discord and conflict"
/ People who have had opportunity to study
the ways Of the bIackbird in the counting time
know that, despite his love Of peace he is anx-
/ ious to make conquests, and in these his p.umage
plays the important part The male bird struts
and hops where the sun Will show his feathes
off to the best advantage. These look purple
jet black. bronze and brown from various points
Of view He ruftes his feathers and like
dandy misses no occasion to make his appear
ance striking, until he has made an impression
on some female when he relapses into the same
state of Indifference as to his personal appear
!
faultess dress was their distinguishing charac-
teristic in their bachelor days.
THE ROBINS wOOING
The robin which has also come for the sea-
son, is more richly endowed by nature than the
blackbird to plumage, but makes no effort
at conquest by means of MS personal appear
ance. Fine feathers are of no consequence in
the eyes of Miss Robin, and c. Robin knows it.
These birds nave many peculiar traits. They
come from tie South in pairs and singly. how
and when nobody knows The flight is usually
made at night. and a chirp in the early
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
selection of their summer homes they show a
decided leaning toward the habitations of man.
The robin must have its mate, for he believes in
domestic bliss, and he sets about the task OF
hOusehunting soon after the summer home has
been reached His woOing is of barbaric nat
ure. and requires pluck and perseverance. He
picks quarrel with another male bird in the
presence Of a female, and, knowing that he is
fighting for home, he fights hard. The lady
bird sits by, apparently unconcerned and
unconscious of what is going on but she always
has on the contest. the result of which
usually engagement in Robinland, with the
victorious cOmbatant the bridegroom-elect
Then the female makes active preparations
for housekeeping. Her nest is built after the
regulation pattern, Of straw and mud, and the
inner wall is made perfectly round by the
pressure of the builders body against the soft
and pliabe material. Mrs. Robin is an indus
triOus housekeeper and works incessantIy until
. the home is made ready for occupancy. The
nest is usually built in out-Of-theway place
but the site Is not always skilfully selected and
often comes within the reach of the small boy
SONG SPARROWS.
When hears number of song sparrows
chrping sweetly this time of the year he may
is the audience. and that the concert is being
given for her benefit: that each singer is doing
his best Outsing the other because the reward
Will be more than the applause of a large audi
ence II increase IF salary. From her perch on
a neighbOring twig she encourages the perform
with a nod a blink and then, with a
chirp Of approval, goes to the master singer and
becomes his mate as reward for his superior
+ ity, and the disappointed competitors go III
search of a more appreCiative audience.
The song sDarrow's English cousin who re-
ceives more abuse than praise, and is here in
all seasons. has less poetic method of wooing
possibly because he has little poetry and no
fight except for his personal rights but he has
domestic Instincts. and like every respectable
bird wants mate. and secures her by Il
peculiar mode If WOOing which is really an ex-
hibiti0n Of endurance Mr.. Sparrow shows by