Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-08
NESTS In HOLLOW TREES.

Besides several kinds of owls. which us
ually nest very early in the season. there
arc more than a dozen species of birds in the
Eastern States which make their homes in
hollow trees. OF these, perhaps the cal TIL
est is the wood duck. whose nest may be
found in the vicinity of New York and
southwark in the first week in May or ear
lier The place to look for 1t Is along the
woodland streams and lakes particularly
those which are bordcred by old trees and
stumps In the holows of such trees and
stumps these beautiful ducks make their
nests of grass, leaves and twigs, and lay
from eight to fourteen buny white eggs
The entrance hole Is often remarkably
small and casual observer would think
that 1t would nocd to be at least twice the
diameter to admit the body of the bird
yet she slips in and out with no inconvon-
renee, and be the locality ever so closely
grown with trees she threads her way
through tho interaced branches at full
speed, and with almost the agility of "A
wood pigeon. Tho young ducks. assisted
by their sharp toe nails scramble to tho
mouth of the hollow. and are usually car
ried to the ground i'm the bill of the pa
| rent.
Tho sparrow hawk quito often selects
for her home the abandoned nest of a
| flicker. but frequently she builds in "A ma.
tural hollow, and have known her to take
| up her abode between the double walls OF
an ice-housc using a large knot hole as an
entrance. Sh" lays from three to sever
eggs, usually ycllowish white with darJ,
buff markings The young are fed large.
ly on grasshoppcrs. mice small birds and
other freshly killed animal food, which tn,
parents capture in the nearly meadows
| The sparrow hawk usually takes up u nosi.
ton on the top of n dead tree from which
she commands good view. and after
! sighting her prey in the meadow bclow
ch Toe hnNT htNr, for a.,
the air, and then drops upon her victim
and bears it away in h'r claws.
sometimes in the spring. when we arc
waking through woodland whore white
birch is abundant, we may hear a light
hammer1n% on dccavod wood, similar. but
not so ioud as that made by dowuy wood
pecker. The other day | heard just such =
tapping IL a clump of white birchcs on :
wooded hillside, and sat down to water
developments. Amongst the blrchcs were
some dead StlmpS, and presently from
| mole in one OF these, was poked Il saucy
familiar little black-and-w white face anC
| recognized my friend the Chickadoe. III
looked quite disguised that had been spy
| Ing on him. or at any rate ! imagined h,
did, and when he began to roundlv Scolc
me, | felt rather ashamed of myself i
seemed as though 1 should have ut leas
said "Ahem'' i1st to warn him of my pres
ence The white lirch stump is Chicka
| dee'S favorito nesting site. though he of
ten builds I'm holes in other trees. The nos
consists of grass, feathers. moss, rab
bits fur, plant down and such like mater
ials. and contains from five to eight whit,
eggs spotted with brown.
The chimney swift can no longer ",
classed amongst the birds which nest il
the hollow trees, for they have adapted
themselves to altered conditions and now
invariably build their homes in the chin
Yet finally committed himself. bv ahardon
ing the WAYS of his furofathcrs and al