Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-14
Maxine Friends With Birds.

Making friends with the birds is an
| ayocation that does not pail" says the
| Los Angeles Times. "How much more
| interesting they are than people, ex-
| claimed an enthusiast with a franknesS
that I could but consider unfiattering,
! since ] was the only representative of
| the latter class within hearing. l do
not openly subscribe to this sentiment.
but will aver that they improve upon
acquaintance. n claim that cannot al
ways be made for the human bired.
| can imagine no more delightful di-
| version for one of the "shut-ins" than
bird study. A feeding ground beneath
ones Window, field glasses or even good
opera glasses within reach. and no day
need be dreary for want of company.
The phoebe did not nest under my
caves after all. | felt hurt about ii un-
til. like her, ] made an inspection and
found that there was not a square inch
upon which she might have obtained a
foothold, save in one secluded corner,
and that had been Dre-empted by the
linnets. When next | build horne |
shall Rave thought for the birds.
Phoebes, l understand-on authority
are fond of bees. With the marvellous
faculty that we call instinct they are
able to distinguish the stingless drone,
and he ii is upon whom they dine.
When l have installed a hive and the
bees under my caves have lost their
aggressiveness | may hope for phoebe
tenants.
My linnets are charming. singing
happily all day as they industriouNly
yra 11r I of n
for them. In appreciation of my efforts
at assistance they appear to have
taken far more than they really need.
their nest being rather i dowdy affair
with loose ends that | feel tempted to
tuck in, lest the babies some day be-
come entanGled. l say they" but that
is giving credit where it does not Justly
belong, for the little brown mother has
done practically all Of the work: her
gay cOnSort. however always bears her
company, through gallantry. presum-
ably, though it may be that he is n |
stlt-electcd superintendent of construc- |
ton. When the string was n novelty |
ne did carry off one piece; running M
stairs to see what disposition he would |
make of it, l found him perched on 4 |
corner of the roof carolling so eavlv |
that the string was lost before his song
was finished.
nave some vegetables coming IN
Tor my linnets. but they prefer lidbits
iron. the table. Were | TO shroud the
young rlants in netting, as some do.
suppose they would at once become
more aliuring. How wary the birds
are. new kind of food will Ii. for
hours untasted until some daring opa
lroh"unces it good. Not till the mock
ers made be fear for their live. ~.
swallowing raisins whole. did the 9TH
ers touch them; rice, also. seemed f,r
ID time doubtful delicacy.
one OF the preltiest, were it not for
showing favOrtism / should saw tho
prettlcst, of my visitors is a goldfincb.
whether the willow or the Arkans,s
eoidfInch l have not yet been abIa 10
"eterfnine The first that | observed
vas very small, as they all arc a
orlsht yellow-green, with iauntv bI,ck
VeiFet cap, and wings of black with
"i'ic markings. He cares NOT , flo
lor my crumbs, but perches and swavs
vi 'iie weeds beyond, where the Goods
are ripening. If he is a willow gola
'ii'ch he must build his nest i'm y vii
'ow Tree that his exquisite plumape
VIII not be his undoing. so shan nIant
Miiow for future seasons. see hin,
iooil' others less vivid in tba;r
III are numerous; these are COR
~, iohO OF the Arkansas var;a,u
si''irches are fond of sunf,owors
ia'"pas grass have been to,I
N,h tastes must be considered =, ~.
garden crop. ''e'eo IN my
cbinninls my regular callers now is the
pp's sparrow. He wears a tailor