Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-08
BIRD LIFE IN THE DESERT.
Charm About the Dry Country IL
Watching Feathered Tribe.

One of the charms of the Arizona Des-
ert tand it holds many for the winter So
5ourner) is its wonderful bird life. In the
we'll irrigated town of Phoenix and the
surrounding orange ranches n flock or
red winged blackbirds settling down In
the middle of a street or corral is no I'M
common sight Bluebirds in surprising
numbers swing from the telegraph wires,
fly catehers are busy in the air and the
cuckoo, oriole and thrush fill the groves
and alfalfa fields with their music says
Country Life in America.
But bird life is not confined to these
agreeable regions: far out over the desert
the air is filled with flashing wings and
piercing song. The palo verde trees
green and graceful. and the gnarled mes
quite are few in number; creosote or
greasewood bushes are plentiful enough.
but they are low, and bending to every
breeze offer little or no protection to the
birds But the cactus plants are num-
erous both in quantity and variety, and
although they are far removed from our
ideas of shelter 1t is To them that the
sonssters look for q safe retreat, and
sometimes for food and drink. little
pecking at the green walls Will always
satisfy, temporarily at least a moderate
thirst
The saguara, or giant cactus, sentinel
left of the ancient gods, often rises TO 4
height of 40 or 80 feet. sometimes as
single shaft, sometimes lifting a group
of arms straight into the sky. This plant
affords q home for woodpeckers. wrens
and an occasional western martin. Ihe
woodpecker makes an entrance by peck
ing at a slight defect in the outer wall
once within the work is easy. Bits OF
fibre are detached, making room, and
there the nest is placed, cool and sara
and shaded from wind and sandstorms.
These homes are often enlarged by max
ing tunnels and corridors, so that pira
may enter a hole in one part of the plant
and leave it by another. When thess
homes are abandoned by their builders
the martins and wrens take possession OF,
them.
The cholla, which Is a low. branching
and very prickly cactus Is nseo ny 'iio
thrashers and thrushes for their nests
The birds are so near the coior vi inc
plant, and the approach TO the nest -
SO hedged about by thorns that they are
safe from the ever-present bahds OF ma
rauding snakes, hawks and grouhu OWLS.
The last is a most ridiculous pira' SUNNI
ing ont ON n desert it might be taken
for a dead cactus plant. The dove, too.
nests In the cactus. hut does not often
choose the cholla, risking less vicious
refuge, for the young birds In making
their first flight are often spiked by the
terrible thorns.
Tucson. unlike Phoenix, is distinctly a
desert town without irrigation, Many
homes are supplied with water pumped
from deem wells by windmills A lie
Comte thrasher has for several years
been building in cholla only few feet
from a house and near road where
there is much passing. Toward sunset.
unmindful of spectators II mounts to the
ton of the creaking windmill overlook
ing its nest, to pour forth It's song into,
the vast and glowing radiance of the ,
evening sky.
1t is an interesting fact that the, birds
acclimated to these regions differ slight
" in color from the same species in the
east They are thus adapted to their
desert background of soft grays and
browns. Manchester On. Id Union. -s...
Fire which resulted from an explo-