Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-04
SOME NATURE NOTES.
The Fitting Of Pair Of Fork Tailed
Phantoms-Nest Building.

Inc frst year that birds are known to
nest IN particular place is worthy of
note in the naturalist's calendar. If the
same birds return year after wear Tho
nesting season becomes a time of pleas-
urable anticipation to those who watch
Tor the coming, for it so frequently hap
pens that a site once chosen will always
commend ieself to the nest builder
1t may be that the same pair of birds
return or that one of the young ones
now full grown. has mated and comes
back to its old home to seek a reliable
domlcile. says the London Daily Graphic
And this is one of the advantages of pos
sessing a well established garden or an
old house, for they have become known
When l first took possession of a
gabled house in Surrey it was with the
hope that the martins would so far honor
me as to build under my. caves. The
mousse was Il new one and ii would take
time to become familiar to summer yisi-
tors but during the second year the mar
TINS came. pair of forked tailed phan-
toms were seen to fit to and FRO for sew
eral days as If on a tour of inspection.
But the sparrows ruled it otherwise
With their customary high handed con-
duct they drove the martins away, and
five summers passed away before they
came again. Not the first who sought
shelter, but younger and more Intrepid
pair whom the stout beaked sparrows
failed to intimidatc.
To and fro they came. The preliminary
tour of inspection was so prolonged as to
give me hope that this pair of martins
would remain and this soon proved to be
the case.
A rough cast wall gives good foothold
to pellets of moist mud. and traces of
such material could be detected here and
there under the caves. In one partcu-
lar division of the oVcrhanging roof these
small foundations received daily addi-
tiohs, and slowly but surely the nest
grew. Sparrows might sit in the gutter
above and gaze with fierce malcvocnt
m - hut
they have not succeeded In ejecting the
newcomers. Indeed / have seen a little
builder boldly scattering a couple of in
quisitive young sparrows who alighted
on the threshold of it's nest.
The work of nest building | now see to
be one OF immense labor. Four weeks
ago start was made. and only by the
end of July was it made complete I
brought a chair on to the gravel walk
beneath and watched the work as it pro-
ceedcd. while another pair1o house mar
tins began to build under the same caves.
Such small mud nests look simple
enough to us. but we are apt to forget
the size of the builders When the first
narrow ledge is made the mud Is added
bit by bit Not merely brought from the
river bank or the nearest puddle and
placed ION the supporting foundation; but
moulded and fitted into it's place by bill
and feet with all the care, and knowledge
of an experienced mason.
AS | write the work goes on In the
first nest the owner Is busy furnishing
with bits of stgaw. hay and feathers.
The whole of the outward structure ap-
pears to be complete and the Interior Is
walled up to the roof with just the cus-
tomary little aperture left as entrance
and exit. ! can Just see the face Of the
little owner appearing now and then at
the opening-busy putting the finishing
touches to the doorway. A peck of the
beak here and tap there and then
plunge into the far depths to smooth out
some roughness that might be uncom-
rz,t .I1 II. fxxr ~
Next door the more laggard neighbor
tolls on, every two minutes going off for
fresh material and returning with an
little bird has grown accustomed to my
presence and seems to know that | am
interested in the work, and when ! stand
glass in hand and watch its movements
the time occupied in placing each fresh
piece of material is double as long as
when / sit some distance, off and effect
to take no notice.
This is the way we build our nests"
it seems to say, CHANGING in my direction
as it treads the mud down with its tiny
feet and fills in the slowly growing cup
sides.
A third pair of martins come flying by
and seeing the finished nest endeavor to
take possession OF the one not yet com
plete, thinking no doubt to save them
selves trouble. SO they make frequent
darts at the busy builder. who repels all
attacks by loud and angry twittering. SO
passes the long summer day. have kept
account Of their goings and comings ana
have timed them during one-half hour 70
return every two minutes.