The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-01-06

platform in some of the4s hoous directly over the
glass globe. Upon this ks many sparrows as can
conveniently crowd together rost throughout the
cold weather nights. A club rapping experiment
on electric light pole at Chicago avenue cor
ner near the North Side water works lot during
a bowling blizzard one winter night resulted In
the dslodgment OF twelve frightened sparrows
They f1uttered about in the storm and hung like
30 many fascinated moths. When the pounding
ceased they made their way back to their resting
place and doubtless remained undisturbed until
morning Their fat was certainly modern in its
appointments. for 1t heated and lighted by
electricity.
Take trip through a thistle field In July and
there will be seen scores of goldfinches feeding
the seeds OF the prckly plants These little
creatures have the appearance of the birds of the
tropics. 1t would seem that barely breath Of
the north wind would send them scurrying south
ward. In truth. however. these birds frail though
they appear. stay with us all winter yet not one
person in fifty outside OF the ranks of the bird
students knows the fact.
In late August the goldfinch drops his gold and
black livery and puts sober sparrowlike
garb This is the reason why people think that
the little thistle seed lover has left them and
that another bird has taken its place In the
Chicago Academy of Sciences there is pathetic
evidence Of how the godfinch keeps warm during
the winter nights. The curator has there an
orioles nest from the outside of which hangs the
body of a goldfnch caught by the neck and liter
ally hanged by one of the cords with which the
has sought refuge in the nest from the weather
and leaving 1t in the morning has thrust his
head through the fatal moose. These birds utilize
the deserted homes Of all their brethren who
build deep nests The goldfnches return night
after night to a nest which an oriole had swung
from the tips Of an elm in Western Springs, Ill.
The chickadee OF which something has been
said builds Its nest somewhat after the manner
Of the woodpecker, but II observation goes for
much, the bird does not use this absolutely safe
and warm retreat for its winter night lodging.
They have been startled time after time Just after
sunset cold nights from the vacated nests of
many species of birds. the chickadee simply bury
ing itself in the warm Innings in which the sum-
mer before the young of its friends had been
Graded.
BY mid-September the swallows one and all
had disappeared 1t may be that II the appear
of one swallow does not make summer.
the absence OF the entire tribe may not make an
autumn, but 1t ID certain that the birds must feel
something that Pids them begone. for they go in
a body and thf go In the twinkling of eye.
The swallows We upon insects, and there Is
reason as far hs food is concerned, why they
should not staf at least two weeks longer, for
their homes ale In sheltered hooks. The hum
ming birds. eabfte its deicacy stays longer than
the swallow AID complains not
II can etch sight Of a saucy little wood
pecker going hto hole in a tree on his lawn at
this season o4the year he may hope to have an
interesting neIghbor during the entire winter. All
the downy w4odpeckers remain In thu north the
years through Some Of the red heads stay too,
hut most Of Dem 60 few score of miles to the
south All Of these birds that remain pass their
nights in hobs In trees, and at the time Of the
frst fall mqeth they are busy locating proper
sojd weaths4 habitattons. II enough interest in