Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1916-01-21
Interesting Facts About Feathered Visitors.
(By MRS. w. B. WILEY

At any season the study of bird life
is attractive to lovers of nature, but
in the winter, when many of our lit
tie feathered friends make a direct
appeal to our sympathies for food and
protection, there is an added interest.
AS the snowfall becomes heavier and
there is scarcity of seeds and ber-
ries, necessity makes the birds bolder
and we have an opportunity to make
friends with many we'll known species
and to observe others which we might
never know if conditions were more
conducive to a plentiful food supply.
Probably the western Junco or
snowbird, as it is commonly called, is
one of the friendliest of our winter
birds. Flocks of these little fellows
appear in every garden patch where
there may be stray seeds and as their
confidence grows, will probably share
the dooryard with the bolder English
Sparrows which, like the poor, we
have always with us. The latter are
not as friendly nor as attractive as
the Juncos but in winter even the
sparrows excite our admiration as they
bravely defend favorite thorn bush
or garden from hocks of other birds
which outclass them in size and num-
bers.
Perhaps there is no better adver-
tisement for our mild winters than
the fact that robins and meadow larks
have been repeatedly observed to win
ter in the Clearwater valley. Conse-
quently we cannot herald their
appearance as a true harbinger Of
spring, but like The Harvester, must
wait for the first bluebird.
A bird of universal interest which
combines the markings of both the
robin and the meadow lark, and by the
unobservant might be mistaken for
either, is the Varied thrush. This
bird, one of the finest and largest
thrushes, is limited to our western
coast and has been one of the COM
monest visitors in Orofino this winter.
Its back is slaty grey and its breast
rufous like the robins, but marked
with a broad black collar not unlike
the meadow lark's. Its bill also is
rather long and slender like the mea-
dowlark. In addition the Varied
thrush has markings peculiar to itself,
a striking yellow streak back of the
eve, orange wirg bars and notified
black and grey undertail coverts. AL
tho it has been in company with a
flock of robins this winter, as spring
approaches it will seek the depth of
the heaviest timber for its nesting
period where it is seldom seen. It's
song is described as "a single long
drawn note which has been greatly
praised and seems entirely in harmony
with the birds surroundings, being
wierd and inspiring" >"
Equally interesting are the only
two known species of the waxwings,
the Bohemian waxwing and the Cedar
bird, which We're with us all during
December. Of these the former is
rarely seen in the eastern states, and
bird lovers in Orotino are especially
fortunate to have an opportunity TO
8 udy it. These birds which closely
resemble each other except in size,
are conspicuous by their crests, deli
cately tinted greyish-brown plumage,
yellow tail band and the brilliant
scarlet waxlike tips to the wing
feathers. The Bohemian Waxwing is
much larger than the Cedar biro, be-
ing about the size of the robin, with
undertail coverts chestnut rufous while
in the Cedar bird they are white.
Henshaw is quoted as saying of these
birds: "As If aware of the distinc-
tion conferred by the quiet elegance of
its image, the Waxwing has the air
of well bred aristocrat and comports
itself with dignity which is very
impressive.
Last and smallest of its kind, tho