Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16
BIRD LIFE IN MARCH
Written f-r Tn Evening Star by Olive Thorne
Mile
Like hungry wolves in bowling pack
Are the niDhty winds astir.
III ApETT AEERS

Written f-r tn Evening Star by Olive Ihorne
Mile
Like hungry wolves in a bowling pack
ELIZABETH AKERs.
March in our part of the world, offers
few attractions for the Homecoming birds.
Springlike days occasionally delude us with
sweet promise of summer, but old Boreas,
blowing fit to crack his cheeks, is true
symbol of the season. Birds, however, are
already astir. The bIuebird, New Eng
lands poet laureate. telling us spring has
come" delivers his musical message on the
first warm day. The robin, too, goes by
the almanac. by the middle of March he
hurries back" and his gladstone voice is
welcome announcement of coming Delights.
Not that bird voices have been altogether
lacking through the season now passing.
Even in the city streets We have had the
far-frOm- welcome gossipy sparrows, while
jewellers in the country about have peen
blessed with the cheerful notes of chicEa-
dee and gOldfinch, the drumming of hardy
woOdpeckers and the inspiring scream of
the jolly bluejay.
When March throws open the doors, even
though it is with a blast from the north
pole, our dear summer friends rush inland
song begins. Early in the month We may
hear the gushing lyric of the song sparrow,
the wandering voice of the bluebird, the
tender MARBLE of the tree sparrow and
even the rare sweet song of his fox-colored
brother, lingering on his way to the north
Now, too We shall see grackles in fiocks
breasting the gale. and shouting with giea
as If they enjoyed it: the loud, clear whistle
of the epauletted redwing shall ring out
from the swamps, and the pensive strain Of
the meadow lark fill the fields with music
In fact, the whole bird world is under W. v
and the thought comes to us with a th.!ll
that far to the south, even in South Amer
lea. our old friends and neighbors are STIR
ring-are pluming their wings for their joy-
Gus flight back to the land of their hopes
II Is great happiness to welcome the wan
derers home, to be prepared with food for
our TOO eager little brothers, when winter
steals back with billiards. and snow storms
ana frost that tightly locks bird granaries
Not only has house hunting begun but
some of the brave little mothers are already
settled 10 their summers work Owls NAV
De found sitting, sometimes on nests dec
GRATED with icicles. Some of the ground
nesting birds have made their snug cradles
and have been discovered buried with heir
eggs under the snow, but still CHEEKY and
hopeful. '--'
That eccentric bird, the crossbill. with
songs Ike legends strange to hear" who
pays us fieeting visits from the land of
snow and ice. where his heart-and his food
are, sometimes sets up home in our eli
mate. beguiled perhaps, by the snow and
Ice of the early spring months.
Even our matter-of-fact fellow creature
the robin, sensible as We should expect her
10 snow herself. even she sometimes grows
impatient TO see her young family around
her, and goes to housekeeping too soon
More than once has the little mother been
found faithful-but frozen, on her nest We
all know the tragedy of the bluebirds few
years ago, who were caught in prolonged
snow storm. and persisted by thousands
But generally the feathered folk weather
the storms, seek
among the close-growing evergreens. fluff
out their feathers and bear their reyerses
like philosophers
Spring Is the time to study the language
or the birds. For in that season of home
making and nursery duties all the varied
emotions of their lives are called out I'm
like the rest of the year, they are bound to
one place. They cannot flee from unpieas-
antnesses-they must stay and meet them.
The Importance of selecting safe places for
nesting, the constant watch for enemies
the many dangers that threaten, make
uese anxious days, and bring out charac-
tCrlStics seen at no other time
linen when sitting is over there is a nurs-
cry nun OF helpless nestlings to rear to
protect from accidents, to provide with
food. to instruct in the path of life An
these make spring the most serious and
evenuul as Well as the most Interesting
season in their lives.
AT this time the conversational abilities
or our little brothers are in full play. and
tneS are lar greater than is usually sum-
posed Besides the well-known songs and
calls which every one may hear, there are
many low notes with the mates and the