Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-05-02
BIRDS THAT NEST
IN THIS VICINITY
THE
BY Eugene c. Ford.


The most interesting thing about the
cowbird is h fact that he is too lazy
to build q nest and to rear the young.
And In this respect the female Is no
better than the male. The eggs. which
some being only lightly mark ed. 9TH
ers being almost entirely covered with
brown. are deposited in the nests of
other birds and left to be Matched and
reared by them. For this purpos the
nests of smaller birds are usually Sc
catbirds, twohee n vireos. h war
blers are sometimes wise enough to
avoid this undesired p%arenthood by
building a new bottom in their nest or
a new nest altogether.
The young cowbird grows faster than
the other small birds In the nest, Sc
curing the most or all Of he food. the
result soon being hat the rightful
occupant Is either smothered or pushed
out to die, n we see a small bird like
the warbler feeding a big young cow
bird twice it's size. The cowbird is the
only bird in this country tina practices
this parasitical habit Of making other
birds rear it's young. but in England.
we are told, the cuckoo follows the
same custom. In this ountry he has
better manners.
This bird generally arrives in the
neighbOrhood OF Sioux City about April
5. 1t is their habit to gather in small
iocks among the cows In h pastures,
feeding on the ground, eating insects
and bugs, but occasionally they may
be seen to alight on the backs of the
cattle n catch flies.
Though the habits of this bird are
not agreeable. yet his o is not un-
pleasant. 1t 10 bubbling in tone, re-
minding ono of q spring Of water. The
song is sung only by the male at the
mating season.
cA1siao.
Have you ever, when walking in
he woods, thought you heard the
plaintive mewing of a ca coming from
the branches of q tres where the leaves
were thfckest? II you stopped to listen,
you was probably surprised h next
instant to hear the notes of the brown
thrasher coming from h same place,
followed by he songs OF h birds,
until you wonder what kim of a crea-
ture is hiding there. No, he isn't a
hooking bird, though he is a distant
relative of his, and has spme of his
powers of imitation. 1t Ia only the cat
bird. which. although common, is not
you become better acquainted with
him he will not be able to fool you.
for whatever son he tries there is
always that soft n mellow tone that
gives him away. His call and alarm
note you will never mistake for any
other bird, from it's close resemblance
to that of the cat.
He arrives from his winter home
about May S. Three to four weeks is
ample time for love making n house
building. n by June 1 you are pretty
sure to find h nest containing a set
of from three to Ave g~reenish-blue
eggs. Unless o are accustomed to
nest hunting. you may have some
troubls In finding his home. for it Is
usually placed where the foliage IL
thickest and in just the place, 80 1t
often seems. where you are most sure
ground IL the usual height. 1t will be
discovered that the nest 10 built on
the same general plan as the brown
thrasher. only smaller a more COM
pact.
The catbird is considered one of our
friendly to a often nesting cal a
human home. He is Of a lively, rest
less temperament, always spreading
his tail and jerking his body about.
The female Is a devoted little mother:
II anything goes wrong with the home
1t will not be her fault. II you have
fruit trees about your premises. 1t will
pay o to cultivate his acquaintance.
for he eats many injurious insects.
though he "a make you pay him for
his services by taking a little Of the
fruit. but 1t 10 only fair that he should
have q little OF that which he does
10 much to protect.
In the late summer you will not hear
much from him. for tho melting pro-
cess seems to absorb all hts energy,
and by tina time this IL yer. about
September 10, he returns to the SOUTH
land.
Whits Robin SEEN.
Bird students will be interested in
the fact that Mrs. sarah Bliven. sO7
robin She describes it as being white
on the head, back Ind wings. but
red on tho breast. ~ the common
Robin. 1t has been seer in the vi
cinity Of Eighth and Jones streets for
several days.
not unknown to ornitholoGy, several in
cidents having . reported in maga-
zines given over to the study Of birds.
They appear to be q freak OF nature
and not forming another species at all,
inasmuch AZ they f~raternixe with the
common robin and also mate with
them.
1000 NVotA3Mv
Do you remember, when you have
been walking along the river or near
some marshy place or slough in the
vicinity or SIOUX City, Oh hAVine seen
q bird that somewhat resembled u
duck starting to fly. but seemed to
have trouble in getting IN the wing.
running on top OF the water. while
beating with its wings until well I'M
der way? That Is the American ccot
or. more popularity called the mud
the water as any bird or beast. The
reason for this Is that its wings are
small and weak as compared with its
weight, so that 1t 10 very difficult Tor
It to rise. but when nee on the wing,