The Washington herald., 1911-07-23
How Birds Feed

~ HE soft grubs upon which starlings
H mostly feed lie close to the surface
of the ground. As the birds walk
Ill rapidly about with that alertness pc
- culiar to the species they may be
seen to dig their beaks into the sur
face or among the thick rootgrowth. This
appears to be done Unfortunately. The
beak Is held wide open, the upper and lower
mandibles acting like an open pair of scis-
sors.
When the open beak is thrust into the sur
face the bird gives it quick shake or twist
and then raises its mead little. The grub,
if there, puts out its head to see what is 20.
ing on, and is promptly seized and devoured
or carried away TO the nest. No birds put
more energy into their work than starlings,
and they consume prodigious quantity of
grubs and worms of one sort or another, to
the great benefit of the farmer and the horti-
culturist.
The thrush or throstle pursues an entirely
different method when in search of food on
the lawns and pastures which form its favor
ite hunting ground. 1t takes hop or two,
birds the sense of hearing is highly developed,
and any worm or insect that ventures to
move within earshot of the silent watcher
runs considerable risk of being detected and
devoured.
THE EARLY BIRD"
The thrush is peculiarly ''the early bird
that catches the worm," as he sleeps on the
premises, 50 to speak, and begins business as
soon as the morning light permits him to see
what he is doing. =.
Blackbirds are omnivorous a. regards their
food, and generally skulk about the bottoms
in search. of food they win turn over loose
sods or clods of earth, and break them to
pieces with their beaks and feet to get at any
WORMS or insects they may contain. They
also dig in the loose earth Of hedge bottoms,
scattering it to left and right with their
beaks.
The loose broken bits Of grass roots and
other small herbage often to be seen lying
about In gardens are the work of blackbirds,
mostly done in the early morning whilst the
gardener Is in bed. These birds also eat all
kinds of fruit, and usually select the best of
every kind in the garden or orchard. They
are therefore looked upon as undesirables,
and, in fact, there is no more destructive bird
to be found about the haunts of man.
Swifts and swallows all take their food on
the wing. When feeding their young the flies
captured in the capacious mouth are rolled
into ball and held together by a sticky
fluid, either coming from the insects them
selves or secreted by the bird for that pur
pose. When the ball has attained sufficient
or Is about the size of large
pea, it is then carried to the nest.
1t has been observed that every youngster
gets its "pilP' in turn, though both parents
may be feeding the brood at one time This
Is an interesting TACT as every young bird in
the nest opens its mouth and clamors to be
fed every time parent bird arrives. There
must therefore be some understanding be-
tween the old birds and they must be able
to distinguish between Jack and Jill.
FLY-CATCHERS.
Fy-catchers appear to get their living with
less expenditure Of energy than any other of
the insectivorous birds. Perched on a stump
or on the branch of low tree, at the edge
Of wood or thieket, usually on the shady
is no appearance Of alertness about IL. IL
might be asleep and dreaming or contempIat.
ing the beauty of the surrounding country
Suddenly a desirable insect comes within
sight. of its sharp little eyes, and away it
ines IN pursuit. A few twists and turns and
the prey is secured. Then the bird returns