Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-15

Otuer pieces OH Pne 6lll. Ono 0ay a chippy came with q grasshopper in its bill and picked up Q crumb or two, probably to make a sandwich. One summer they became so tame that the parents would bring the ba.bie4 to the
 window and take crumbs from my tie Tommy Tucker sit on my hand and Gng.
 Song sparrows are not so easily tanned. Last summer one or more came to the window, perhaps daily, through July and frequently in August. No little ones were brought, although two families were raised in the yard.
 The last Of Juno saw a pair of nuthatches near my home, the first I had seen since Nuttie and Lady went away for nest building. A month later saw one quite often. Early in August it found ta1e tree, where food was kept for the birds. It continued to come alone for a month when 1t was Joined by it's mate. On September walked toward the tree where one was sitting It did not move until my Outstretched hands holding food, was within foot of it. It then moved up the trunk a little. I then held my hand against the tree and after a lit- tie he walked part way down, then became tin1id and flew away. I knew from this attempt that it was the same bird that had fed from my hand for four winters Eight other times one camo part way down the tree. but lacked courage for the final venture Tn November both became brave enough to come to the food shelf, even when I stood touching it. Finally ono took a bite from my hand, as it lay on the shelf and in a week or so one walked down the tree to my hand and ate several bites. From November 20 both came quite readily to my hand. Once the male ate fifteen bites without going away. One day a third one ap- peared and was immediately driven away by Lady. Nuttie sat quietly on the tree and let them settle the affair. Some days later it came again, but Lady would not allow it to stay. Lady was the first to come to the win dow and always seems to be the first to find food, when it Is put In new place; when Nuttie discovers that she has found something he promptly drives her away and appropriates it. They continued to come readily to my hand until about a month ago. Since then the male comes occasional ly. know no reason why they should have become so timid. Both come to the window for food.
 have noticed the nuthatches, ,chicka- dees and tuncos drinking the drops of water that form on the edge of the roof when the snow melts. One day a junco ate eighteen bites of snow. They come from ten to twenty in flock to corn, which I grind in the coffee mill. When the food is covered an inch or two deep with snow they will scratch until they find some They also scratch the bedding under the barn shed. Since the second week in De- cenber several have learned to come to the window. where they show very little fear.
 A female downy woodpecker comes to the corner of the house to eat suet. Twice she has flown to the window. A song sparrow and two tree spar rows came to the doorstep number of times for food few days ago. Sometimes a, few English SpaTroWs come Occasionally dozen. They always seem afraid, although we never frfThten them. Their colors are fresh and the markings decided not at all like the dingy birds one sees in the. city streets. I have seen very few myrtle warblers this winter. Once one came to the l. roof a number of times. It seemed quite fearless. I frequent ly see and .hear goldfifinches as they fly past. They were very common last summer in our back yard, where they seed damdelions. Of the larger birds, see crows, jays, meadow larlxs and fiickers The latter were successful in raising family near my home last summer.
 FIocks of evening grosbeaks have been reported from two places nearby. In one of the 1ettrs in the children 8 department of The Bulletin short time ago mention is made of these birds, when the description given ap- plies to the rose breasted grosbeaks, a regular summer bird in Connecticut Last week five b1uebirds lighted on the pear tree and caused much excite ment among the chickadees, nut t1atches and juncos. Today, in addi- tion TO the usual bird notes, l. have heard q bluebird and la song sparrow.