The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-02-28
BIRD STUDY
A Series of Articles on the
Habits of Birds That
Visit Madison
THE BLUEBIRD


Ii is the Gulf States or the West In
dies that the common bluehirds spend
the greater part of the winter months
They arrive in these regions from the
northern ATTITUDES about the 6rst of
| December and live there in focks until
al out the fist of February. As the
mating usually occurs on their north
ward trip. they have separated into
small groups of three or four by the
first Of March, the time they bave
reached the northern latitude. Some
continue their %northward migration
until they reach the southern boundary
of Canada.
The snow has not always melted north
of the fortieth parallel before this
plaintive warbler announces that
spring lie approaching. 10 fact he is
one of the first of the migratory birds
to De seen. often preceding the robin.
Their spirited spring song is a plain
tive note consisting Of the three syl-
tables. ''troo e-les, troo- e. lee" and
is easily initiated by any boy. They
spend several days in fitting about
the orchards and yards apparently
searching for q suitable summer home.
They may be seen investigating the
woodpecker's nest of the year bafoIe,
the holes in the fedce posts or the
fruit trees or the small bird houses
that may have been built especially
for them. Not unfrequently thsy will
| build the nest in the thick foliage of a
hedge row.. rose thicket or a syringa
bush lie a small bird house is built
ON a post or other upright projection,
the chances are that this sky-tiuted
bird will make 1t his home for the
summer and 10 doing so will rear at
least two broods. If bits of cloth are
scattered near the bid box it will
help the pair materially in the con
struction of the nest. 1t seems that
any ind takes into consideration in
building his home, the food supply.
the materials for nest construction and
the danger from his enemies.
DuIiog the early spring the blue
birds food consists of weed seeds and
the cocoon that he finds en- the
trunks of fruit and foliage trees. A
little later iu the season he depends
upon the insect life common to
orchards and gardens. He is to the
fruit or ornamental tree what the
toad il TO the garden.
By the middle Of April or the first
of May the nest has been completed
and the five or six blush white eggs
have been laid. In about twelve days
the Matching occurs and for several
days the young are almost a black and
quite often the blue does not show
until they are ready to leave the nest.
The male bird obtains the greater part
of the food for both the mother and
the young. As they spend the greater
part of the fruit season in the same
locality they are of inestimable value
in reducing the number of insect
pests. As they do not start on their
southwark journey until late in the
fall they also help to quite an extent
in lessening the weed seeds ia the
ear ~ fall. The trees have often be-
come bare and all insect life hidden
before they leave for their long fight.
Just previous to leaving for the south
they may be seen gathering together
in tiocks and spending the entire day
in search of food, really a prepara.
ton for the arduous trip. Ii is also
noticeable that the spirited song OF
the springtime is changed to n with
a harsher and a sadder note.
These birds, nos mere presence
adds much to any orchard OF group OF
shrubbery. are easily recognized on
account Of their familiar coloring.
Their amiable dispositions and trust
ful, sociable manner make them gen
eIal favorites.