Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-07-05

birds. He has gotten bad reputation
in larger cities. especially Denver. for
destroying the buds ON the ornamental
shrubs.
In sharp contrast with this robber
| Is the whisky Jack or camp bird. n
most familiar resident OF the mining
camps. His friendly manners have
made him great friend to the lonely
miners shut up In their winter camps.
4 very conspicuous bird In the south
western portion OF the state Is Tie
American raven. His sepulchral ap'
pearance aud harsh voice. however, IN
not calculated to render him popular
/ favorite.
The American crow Is only common
Is northwestern Colorado.
The distant relatives OF the crows
grouped together under the head or
black birds uhe red wings. the yellow
headed black bird and the cow bird
are exceedingly common In the
swamps. Their migratlons In large
/ iiocks are one OF the most prominent
Indications OF the beginning and close
OF the summer. In some cases where
/ food Is abundant considerable num-
bcrs Will remain throughout tho
winter.
| The song OF the western meadow
/ lark Is the most noticeable OF the sum.
mcr residents OF the plains. This BIRD,
although so closely resembling the
meadow lark OF the eastern states as
/ TO be regarded as nn Identical species
/ for many years, possesses n radically
different song. The brilliant yellow or
| the plnmnec OF Its breast Is In marked
/ contrast with the browns and srnys OF
Its upper surface. which enables him
/ to so easily conccai himself In the dry
/ hcrbncc OF the plains.
We will often hear the song OF n
bird In the cottonwood trees that wc
arr unable to Identify. Finally one de.
tccts brilliant plumnEcd blri-ih-
golden black OF builock's orlolc. This
/ bird does not visit us until the leaves
are out ON th. cottonwoois. He pFn'
IDENTIFY cunccals himself SO that days
may ciaps- without sight OF tho
songstcr who IL constantly scrcnndinS
us nj morning and evening. Ills hang.
Ing nest Is SO strongly built as TO defy
the winters gales. and Is perhaps tho
most common OF the nests which ws
see after the leaves have fallen.
The iiuchCs are In Colorado In great
numbers. The most conspicuous Il
the dear little house finch. the most
common bird OF Denver. The habits
OF this bird ARE In some RESPECTS Ike
those OF the eastern sparrow. but Its
cheerful song Is u happy relief from
the Irritating sIuawk OF the eastern
INVADER
until recently Colorado has not been
bothered by the English sparrow. Not.
wIthsIandins several attempts to Intro
ducc these birds. they did not com.
mcncc TO Increase until within the last
Ave year. Now In several parts of the
state. and particularly In Denver, they
are as numerous rs la amy eastern
town. \ struggle for existence Is In
progress between the house nnchc-
aud the English sparrows. Despite
the rapid Increase OF the splrruws, tho
song OF the inch i still heard even ON
the busiest business streets OF the
cities. and IL may lie questioned whcih.
or they have suffered from the attacks
of their puguncious enemies.
The mountain pinrmiEun j. one OF
the most Interesting OF the Colorado
birds. In the summer its plumaEc Is
like the brown and llchcn.colOrcd
rocks among which II feeds. With tho
approach OF winter white feathers he.
gin to appear until with the coming
OF the snow II Is only dlsiiuguishablc
by motion from the vast snow fields OF
the range.
The little water ouscl. Sometimes
known ns the humming bird OF the
Sicrrns. l. most interesting occupant
OF our mountain cInons. II feeds on
water Insects and lives almost half.
submerged life. often running for min.
utcS underneath the fOnmiug waters
OF our mountain CatnrICts.
One OF the birds that Is practically
extinct In Colorado il the large. white
pelican OF the gulf states.
Among the numerous water fowls
are several birds that are usually
found only along tn" sea shore. such
rs the gulls. the double. crested cor.
mornnts and some terms. The hcrOns
/ have several rockcrics along the
streams OF Colorado.
One OF the rarcst birds among the
game birds OF the state Is the Amer.
I lean wOodCock.
I The wild turkey may still be found.
| but doubtless will soon he cXtcrmi.
mated. \ bird that is now extinct In
/ Colorado, us In many OF the northern
states. Is the pretty little Carolina par.
| Opuct.
In Colorado ornithOlogy one of the
most difficult fcats is to determine the
| true species of the various kinds of
| snow birds. The common so-Callcd
snow bird. so abundant In the city
streets after or during storm, Is not
| the true snow bird of the eastern
stntcs, but should be properly called
"A horned lark.
! ing It into the air with shovels, the
/ trpup hrppzp rnrryiup uwny tho