Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-04-17
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!. BIRDS THAT NEST
IN THIS VICINITY
THE WESTERN MEADOW
LARK.
BY Eugene c. Ford.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

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What bird Is that which so resem-
bles the down-east meadowlark, but
has so much sweeter song" is almost
sure to be the inquiry of an eastern
resident who is in the west in SPRING
time.
The general habits of the western
meadowlark do not differ materially
from those of the eastern species The
plumage Is much the same, except that
the yellow on the underparts extends
farther up on the sides The chief diff
ference being in the notes, which In
the western species are louder and
have much sweeter tone For long
period OF time the western species was
neglected by scientists. being consid-
cred sub-species of the eastern and
given little attention. So much was
this true that the word neglecta was
added to It's Latin name But at a
recent meeting of the American Orni-
biologist union made 1t an independent
species. suppose the bird feels
highly honored that its claims have
at last been acknowledged by this
learned society.
They are among our very earliest
arrivals from the land of sunshine in
the south. The date at which they
reach Sioux City in their journey
northward Is about March 10. 1t is
probable that they make from 80 to
80 miles per day in their northward
journey. The question has been raised
winter in tins latitude. An observer
from Armour, S. D., reports that a bird
was seen there January 20. 1911. But
this is rare occurrence. Tndoubted-
lN. however, they winter at no great
distance south of us
TI.,v q I,
the meadows at good distance from
trees, generally at the foot of a bunch
of grass and is often arched over
aud occasionally a winding passage
leads to 1t. 1t is somewhat difficult
for this reason to find the nest, and
also from the fact that the male is
very watchful and gives ample warn
Ing of approaching danger when he is
near. But occasionally he will be gone
ana then as you walk through the
meadow YOU may be startled by haN-
ing bird fly up suddenly from before
Your feet. Stop short and examine the
grass carefully If you would discover
II the date happens to be after May
10 you will probably find from four to
six white eggs. spotted or speckled with
cinnamon or reddish brown, or If u few
weeks later In the season the naked
little ones.
The ineadowlark is considered one
of our most beneficial birds. Some one
interested in agriculture has figured
out that every one of these birds that
lives season on the farmers land
Is worth to him from $1.50 to 50 for
the Injurious insects destroyed They
are strictly ground birds. seldom ris-
ing higher than fence post or pos
sibly telephone pole and the branches
of the lower trees
They are healltifitl cipyara rrbair
song has been described as "a clear,
plaintive whistle of unusual sweet
ness A more pleasing concert can
scarcely be heard than that of a flock
of meadowlarks. gathered as they
often do. in the branches of some low
tree in the morning hours. each one
seeming to try to Guido the others i'm
singing. These concerts are warnings,
however, that they are preparing to de-
part on their journey. which takes
place In the latter part of October and
the first week i'm November.
BLUEBIRD.
The bluebird is the most patriotic OF
all birds, at least if the continued and
faithful wearing of the national colors
Is sign of patriotism. Red, white and
blue is the color of his coat, and he is
not afraid to show his colors under
any circumstances.
They are very common in the vicin-
ity of Sioux City, almost if not quite
as common as the robin. 1t has to be
very cold spring indeed that keeps
him south later than March 10, and ii
the spring is early you may see him
of the earliest arrivals. the meadow
lark and robin usually beating him by
few days
1t will pay you to put up a box. il
you are the least bit interested in
birds and watch proceedings as the
| the nest built and the family reared
May ~ usually find the nest con
structed and carefully lined with dry
| grasses or feathers and from four to
six light blush eggs deposited therein
| But the bluebird does not believe III
race suicide. for two and sometimes
| three broods are often reared in a
| season
If Your garden or trees are both
| cred with destructive insects you will
be Well repaid in another way fol
amy time you may spend in inducing
| the buebird to make his home neal
| yours. AN examination of the stom.
| achs OF 800 of these birds show tina,
| 10 per cent of their food consists OF
| insects and their allies. Beetles com.
| prise % per cent of their whole food
| grasshoppers, 90 per cent; caterpillers
| III Fer cent. and various insects, in.
cluaing quite a number of spiders, com.
| prise the remainder of the ANNA
| diet
John Burroughs has called attention
| to the fact that blue is IA rare color il
the bird world, the kingfisher, the jay
and the bluebird being the only one.
\ IN which this color predominates ii
VIII thus be seen that he belongs t.
an exclusive set i'm bird society. A.
l the RrpeDeS are nlacad bv t;ct,
at the bottom of the ladder of classi
ficaNon the bluebird Is placed at til,
top, the Caucasian of bird civilization
The old and young, in families, us
ually rove around in the late summer
and fall and. about October 10, depar
l for southern health resort, as yo,
would expect of those occupying a.
prominent place in bird society a.
they.
i 49,