Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-19
Chats With Nature.

This month the birds mate and the hrSt
spring flowers in the garden and wood send
up their green shoots, while many Of them
are all aflower, such as the cowsiip. In It's
form of golden yellow. The other day
picked a heartsease. and yellow butterfly
fitted by in a half-dazed sort of way, as II
uncertain how he got there.
At this time of year hepatica is found on
the leafy hillside and the beautiful marsh
marigold where the ground is moist Dog
tooth violet, slender and graceful, like
tiny yellow lily anemone, spring beauty,
or wind flower, now fill the hands of chub-
by children. who are always the first to
find the early beauties Of springtime. The
leaf buds are showing a light green On
syringa, rose and lilac bushes.
In the swamp the skunk cabbage appears
early in the month. The plant is favorite
cradle for one of our warblers. the Mary
land yellowthroat. 1t seems that they
must know that safer place cannot be
found for housekeeping, as no animal will
go near this illsrneIling plant.
Though March is called the awakening
month for nature, yet in April she Is full
of laughter and often fearful. perhaps petu-
liant at not finding the weather as settled
as she thought it might be. But the laugh
ter of natures sunshine and the RAIN
teardrops will bring to us the flowers Of
May.
Yesterday I was out in the orchard look
ing for birds, and UP in a tall elm I saw
two robins. The male was wooing his lady
love. and he went about it in a very sweet
way. She sat on a bush nearby. while he
triIled soft, gentle song to her. 1t was
very unlike the usual harsh cry of the
robin. and added another note to this
birds wonderful variety of vocal express
sions, which show love, contentment, anger,
fear, anxiety and joy. There is no bird bet
ter loved nor more eagerly looked for in
springtime.
They like to nest in pear trees or other
low trees in gardens, where they are sure
ct
so necessary to rear properly a family Of
young robins. .-.., ..--.. -....-i
This year the phoebe seems to be more
prominent than ever The male of this
always migrates first, his little wife ap-
pearing week or so later. Their CHEEKY
call of Phoebe phoebe" is heard in the tall
oaks and elms until a location for house
making is found under rafter Of some
building, and the dainty nest OF moss, hair,
feathers and mud is made. and from four
to six little white eggs are laid.
The woods are full of the gorgeous red
winged black bird, which is very sociable
with other birds, and whose 'O-ka-lee"
rings out over the marsh land In early
morning and at night fall This bird is of
great benefit to the farmer, devouring in
Vulnerable injurious insects.
With US this month are found the meadow
lark, singing merrily Spring O. the year."
the thrushes. the chimney swift. erroneous
ly called swallow, as it is more like a hum
ming bird. This bird is seldom seen to
dlsnt, ana mas Il most wonderful power OF
flight. The color is sooty brown, excepting
the throat. Which is gray. The tail is short
square and full of spines. The long wings
when folded extend beyond the tail. This
twittering sprite builds in chimneys and in
hollow trees. The nest is made of twigs
glued together with the birds saliva
The study of birds is wonderfully inter-
eStlng, and one never realizes how MANY
beautiful Songsters we have about u.s. even
in the city streets, until we go out and
with a good field or opera glass scar for
them.
| wonder if children know that the great
gray and white seagulls which hover over
the East and North rivers and New York
bay are invaluable to the city and It's peo-
pie. When the scows of the street cleaning
department dump the refuse On the waters
at high tide each day thousands of gIlIIs
gather to feed upon the matter deposited.
They are to northern cities what the
turkey buzzaru is to the cities of the south.
The American Ornithologists Union ap-
peals TO the public for money to hire war
denS to protect this bird on our coasts from
being destroyed for millinery purposes. and
it does seem as If every right-rninded man
and woman ought to see the need of nro-
tectng the gulls. the terms and all of our
beautiful song birds. not only because of
the pleasure they give, but also because of
their great use to the human family as
scavenSers and deyourers of obnoxious in
sects. JULIA ADAMS POWELL.