Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14
THE PHOEBE.
(Sayornis Phoebe.)

When spring comes again remember to
watch for the arrival at the north of this
pretty bird. 1t is to be found throughout
the United States, east of the great plains,
and 1t winters from the south Atlantic and
gulf states southwark.
Though naturally building it's nest under
an overhanging cliff Of rock or earth. or in
the mouth Of a cave. 1t prefers to live In
the vicinity OF farm buildings, and this is
50 marked that In the more thickly settled
parts Of the country the bird Is seldom seen
at any great distance from q farmhouse,
except where bridge spans some stream,
affording a secure spot for a nest.
It is very confding bird. and 1t is
great favorite 1t Is seldom disturbed by
farmers. Because 1t lives chiefly upon in
sects, which It generally catches on the
wing. such as click beetles, May beetles,
weevtls, grasshoppers. flies. wasps, spiders,
etc., 1t is plain to see why farmers encour-
dens or fields. They raise two broods a
year, and are a very busy and happy fam
lily IL let alone. 1t Is not even necessary to
furnish nesting boxes for such busy bird
family. as they prefer more open situa-
ton. like shed or nook under the caves.
but 1t Is necessary to protect them from
cats and other marauders. When watching
pair of phoebes, with their babies i'm the
nest, usually numbering from four to six.
be very careful to move quietly. as they are
easily frightened. although confiding. When
watching OF NdnQunS any DlrQ IL IS always
best to move gently. l remember very we'll
one summer evening not long ago when my
pet dog seemed very much excited. He
jumped about and chased up and down a
field OF long grass as II there were some
thing very extraordinary going on. Look
Ing into the matter l found baby robin
huttering about in wildly excited state,
and overhead flew two robins, evidently the
parents of this unfortunate baby. They
were shrieking and calling as If they
thought that would help matters To quiet
the dog and save the pretty baby bird l
picked it up and took it with me to the
porch. where sat for long time holding
1T very gently between my hand and cheek
The mother bird followed me quietly as if
to see where I was taking her baby, and
with the frightened creature held. By de-
greeS the dog became quiet and at last the
little futtering heart of the baby bird grew
quiet and natural and / felt l might safely
try to return 1t to its unhappy mother.
Perhaps you may never have thought be-
fore Of how bird must suffer when fright
ened. 1t is really very pitiful! Escaping
the vigilance Of my dog, / slipped away to
a field near by, In the center of which was
great tree. Upon this tree a flock of rob-
ms were chattering, scolding and calling to
a number on a tree near by. 1t was plain
that all the excitement was about the prob
able fate of the missing baby bird. I
gently placed the now contented baby on the
grass almost underneath this tree, and
walked away, although longed to keep 1t.
My young son decided the question of re-
turning 1t, however, saying 1.-THE baby must
go back to its mother" and he was right,
was he not? AS 1t soon grew dark, we could
never find out whether it really got back to
Its mother, but as on our return the next
day to the field we saw no sign of the baby
bird or of any other robins, we concluded
that the mother bird had her baby and was
again made happy.