Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-24

Birds make all kinds of curious nests
Still, surprising as some of them are
they generally are alike in one thing. ana
that is that they are suspended in the
air in some manner.
But Florida has bird that digs it's
nest deep in the ground. IT is the little
Florida burrowing owl, called by the
neat and dainty name of "Spectotyto
Cunicularia Floridana" by scientists,
who love to find names like that for the
beasts and birds and fishes Of the cOun-
try.
The burrowing owl does not live under
ground because it is too stupid TO build
nest above ground. 1t is a very wise
hTgle bird, much wiser than most Of its
feathered relatives, and it's knowing APP
pearance is fully borne out by it's brain.
The owl burrows because it prefers to
live that way.
The birds dwell together in large
colonies Thus their homes form real
bird cities. They prefer an open prairie
land for the site of the settlement. IIav-
ing selected the location, they pitch in
suddenly some night and by the time
dawn comes the town is open for bust
ness, each house finished and all the in
habitants snoring comfortably, from four
to eight feet underground.
Like the prairie owls in the west that
also live in burrows. the Florida owls are
as quick as Il wink in diving into the
holes of their gloomy homes on the first
sign of danger.
The burrowing owls are not satisfied
with burrow unless il is deep enough to
furnish them reasonable protection
against nttlesnakes, which dotc on owls
eggs, and will not hesitate to squirm
into an opening in the ground If they
think that Il feast of fresh eggs is wait
ing for them at the bottom.
Sometimes rattlesnake will worm it's
horrible body into n nest and drive the
,'ttie owls out, eat their eggs and then
add insult 10 injury by dwelling in the
burrow itself.
When the birds are ready to build
their underground mansion the male bird
ps tks at the ground with his bill till he
has marked out a circle about Is inches in
diameter 1t is wonderful how we'll he
can do this. The circle that he "pccks
ont is much more perfect than any that
most children could draw.
When the circle is completed. the male
and female begin to delve away at once.
First they dig with their bills until they
have broken mp the top layer Of the
ground enough to give them foOthold.
Then they begin 10 use their claws.
When the scratching begins the dir
begins 70 ny. II would make hamyard
iFHH turn EI''33 W til WV y II illtR ''ttt'l
see how the borrowing owls can scratch.
Indeed. il Is lucky for us that chickens
cannot scratch 0ne-tcnth as well, II
they Could the entire United States
might be scratched off the face of the
earth in few years.
The burrows extend in a straight line.
When the birds have worked ont the cir-
cular shaft they must make a big vuulted
dwelling room At tn" bottom. This par
Tor Ii circular in shape and large enough
to accommodate both papa and mamma
owl and all the little owls 1t is 50 deep
below the surface that rains cannot Seep
into it. The little family, gathered there
throughout a stormy day. can sleep ~
comfortably as if there were no such
thing as tempest.
The burrowiug owls eggs are hcauti-
fui little spheres. perfectly round. pure
white. and not more than an inch IN III
4metcr. After they have been laid and
until they are Matched out. the little IA
ther stands constantly ut the mouth Of
he burrOw. watching most herceiy that
no enemy shall approach too closely.
When be is standing seutry be rests
on one leg. and never moves any part ~
bis body except his head. which he
twists around in al directions. forward.
backward and sideways as il it were -"
en- n pivot. Let danger threaten and
that movable ''togecIcy' head H. thrust
forward. tho bill opens alarmingly, and
ne yellow eyes grow rlmrnse--~o i'm
menEe that most animals are frightened
when they see them w Washington Post