The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-03
OUR WINTER BIRDS.
Some Feathered Residents That Bright
en- the Frozen Landscape.


Some Feathered Residents That Bright
EN- the Frozen Landscape.
After the fall migration is ended,
and the birds have flown to n warmer
climate, there still remains goodly
number, prepared to brave with us the
rigors of New England winter. The
number and varieties of these birds
vary with the character of the season
A cold winter, with much snow ana
wind, will bring to MS rare visitors
from the extreme northern woods
birds, which under milder conditions,
find food enough for their needs during
the whole year in ATTITUDES farther
north than ours, and which seek in the
hardest winters climate little warm
err than their own. On the other hand,
many stay with us during mild winters,
seek milder climate farther south
when rough weather prevails. Thus, ~
can be seen that there are constant
changes and varieties among our win
ter friends, and many pleasant sur
prise is always in store for us, who
have an observing eve.
Principal among these rare visitors
from the north are the pine grosbeak
and the red crossbill. The former has
been seen in this vicinity this winter.
The males of these two kinds are beau
tifullv marked with red on the head,
back and breast, and make an attract
i've bit of color as they are seen about
the barren fields and in the evergreens,
where they chiefly feed. The grosbeak
is the larger of the two birds, being
nearly the size of n robin. lie is the
one which frequents MS the least, many
seasons not appearing NJ all.
The crOssbill is about the same SIZE
as the English sparrow, so named from
its crossed. parrot shaped beak Ihere
is an old legend which tells that this
little creature, tried to pun the eruel
nails from calvary's cross, and IN so
doing twisted its beak and stained its
breast with red.
Besides these rare visitors, there are
the common winter birds, who after
nesting in the Canadian woods come 10
ms annually for winter homes Among
the earliest arrivals is the lunco, or
more commonly known AS the snow
bird. that little slatecolored fellow who
displays white outer tail feathers rs, he
flies about our gardens and road sides.
Like most winter birds, the iunco lives
in hocks of his own kind, but associates
kindly with other species OF BIRDS, ana
in his company may often be seen an
other very common VISITOR, the Tree
sparrow, or winter chippy-a little
fluffy fellow of mixed browns and greys
and who has tiny black spot on his
pale grey breast
Another regular conner is the golden
crowned kinglet. restless kind of a
bird with golden spot on his olive
green head. He is to be found the
oftenest in evergreen trees, where his
constant darling motions make the on
locker wonder how he ever finds a
chance to feed. We occasionally hear
the call notes of all of these birds dur
ing the winter days, and as the season
nears TO the solstice of spring, we are
favored with chorus of their nesting
songs as they are preparing to leave
us for their homes in the north.
The mainstay, however, OF our winter
birds is found in the permanent resi-
dents, the native born of our climate
| The most common of these are the blue
| laws, flickers, downy and harry wood
! peekers. the nuthatches, chickadees
myrtle warblers and gold finehes; me
! last two named change their bright
| ulumape of summer to more sober
| 1lress for winter. The warbler, If We
| notice carefully, will have but one vel
| low patch, while in summer he dis
| .plavs four. The gold finch removes his
L golden splendor, and appears IN :
I gown of olive green, like the one wori
| nv his mate the entire year. His change
Of dress does not, however, change hi
shirts: he goes, as in June. through thu
air, leaving behind him his CHEEKY
notes.
The blue jay is, perhaps, the wintee
bird which is most common to All. III
is most in evidence about our homes,
his large size, loud voice. and azure col
oring make him prominent feature o
winter bird life, Despite his poor trait
his unmusical cries and treatment O.
smaller birds-the blue jay makes him
self welcome by the brightness of NJ
! plumape, and his many amusing htti
tricks When the February sun get
info his blood and he really let's himsel
90 in a rich mellow whistle as he speed
On through space, he seems very al
mirable creature indeed: ,., A.
Perhaps of all our winter birds, th
cbickadee is to many Of us the. mos
delightful and interesting He !;
brave in the dreariest of days, and IN
CHEEKY "chick-a-dee rings OUT ul
changed, whatever may be the wsathel
Besides this song, when Is oltnhes
heard, the chickadee has variety Q
call notes, and another song ms ion
s sunn, DAYS in mid-winter, and is FIRE
e ouentlv 'a sung as the season advance
toward nesting time and the war;
DAYS. This is the "pewee song.
This song is confused many times wit
that of the wood pewee. What is NOR
CHEEKY to one walking along a i1 On Ell
country road than to sec, few bird
skipping along on ground. and renee
singing their little songs OF praise! /:
Nature is full of surprises 1or US
we only walk with an obseryant eye.
nmv y. Haskell, in Greenfield Gazette