The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-01-21
Nature Study.
BIRD

oAD0 "
Mrs r. L. Stevens, West RALEIGH. m. C.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
The equipment necessary for an
observer of birds is not large. He
needs only a pocket note book. a
good opera OF field glass and moon
spicuous clothing. Armed with this
equipment the student should start
out in she early morning or towards
sunset. It is at this time during the
summer season that the birds are
active. In the heat of the day no
observations can be made of sufh,
cient Importance TO repay the effort.
The few hours succeeding day break
are best of all but at a later period
there is quite enough taking place to
repay the watcher.
In spring and fall, however the
conditions are somewhat different,
and mid day walks may we'll be pro
ductive of good; while in winter,
they Ire some times best of all.
Bird study must be full of Indian
like Draft and subtlety and the
standpoint for observing chosen
with good judgment. Some times it
happens that the bird is unusually
shy !; then arti6oe may help carry out
the design. All appearance of stealth
or watohtulness should be thrown
aside. Assume the manne of a guile
less and unconcerned ~loiterer, stroll
along, not too directly toward the
bird and particularly avoid any
steadfast gazing. Duplioity of this
sort will often outmatch the sagacity
of the bird and should be practiced
at the proper time.
Another expedient, sometimes
adopted with great success, is TO imi-
tate bird notes by ohirps and whistles.
Sometimes the bird will answer and
often they have been known TO APP
proach quite near TO the accomplish
ed mimic.
When you have come upon a bird
the opera glass will of course be put
into use. But oven in raising 1t to
the eyes the action should be deliber-
ate. A quick or hasty motion is
often quite enough TO betray a
presence.
When the specimen is secured in
good view a careless observation is
not enough If the observer is really
TO become in anyway a student. The
birds markings should be carefully
studied the tail and wings noted
whether they are long or short,
slender or full, and whether the tail
is rounded or nNtohed the tints of
the legs and bin mar ked. Attention
should also be given TO the charac-
teristic habits, such as the flight
whether straight or undulatory, the
position maintained in the tree
whether high or low in the branches /;
the general bearing of the bird
whether restless Or composed, the
nature of the environment, whether
marsh or meadow, wood, upland or
lowland and above all the song or
note of the bird should be thorough
Iy learned.
1t is most important that the OBJ
server should have a good book of
reference. Many books are now
upon the market; but among the
best are those suggested by Mr.. 7.
Gilbert Pearson in his recent cOntri-
button to bird studies-A Hand book
of Birds of Eastern North America,
by Frank M. Chapman; Birds of
Village and Field, by Florence Mer-
Ram Manual of North American
Birds, by Robert l.. Ridgway.
Mr.. Pearson's "Stories of Bird
Life" which has recently appeared,
is d charming little book of two
hundred pages devoted to observa-
tions on a few birds with which the
author became thoroughly familiar
and whose cunning ways and eccen-
tricities we're observed and inter
preted. The book is nicely illustrated,
is sympathetic in treatment, and is
altogether we'll adapted to the place
for which it was designed as a Sup
Elementary Reader for the graded
schools. Is is a delightful Preside
book also, and in the authors ap
pendix are found many useful hints
and directions for closer study OF
birds which will be greatly appre