Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-08
The Story Of an
ADOPTED Robin

During the first week after adopt
ed him, Pete accompanied me to and
from the laboratory each day; and
during that time he learned to pick up
grains Of sand, to flap his wings in
mimic flight, to come to me at call,
to drink from a dropper During the
next week he learned to recognize the
difference between the appearance of
the foot paddle and that of the
dropper. When he had had enough
food he steadfastly refused any furth-
er attention to the food paddle, but
when the dropper was presented he
would eagerly stretch out his neck to
drink. He also flew each day during
the second week, always returning to
me after each fight.
He took especial delight in dust
bath, but much preferred the road dust
to the dry earth of the garden. When
he wanted his bath he would go
through some of the motions In his
cage, and then stand and peep till |
took him to the road, where he would
revel for half an hour or more.
Pete Is a tyrant. If we do not at
tend to his wants Immediately, his ten
der little peep turns to shrill STAG
cato note that spells insistence in
every sound. Yes, he is a spoiled
child, we know; but you must remem-
Der that he is the only one in the fam
lily, and it is true that we have tried
to anticipate his every need before he
even knew it.
One of his flights gave me palpita-
ton of the heart l took him out in
the morning for his exercise, and he
flew up up, over the trees, over the
house, and was gone out Of sight.
Quickly I followed his general direc-
ton, but could find nothing of him.
went back to the house. put on a
coat and hat, and explored the neigh
borhood but he was gone beyond re-
claim. A full half hour l bemoaned
my loss, and was giving up in despair.
when out of the blue came f1utter OF
wings. and Pete alighted on my shout
der, shrilling his peep, peep into my
ears. He was hungry and did not
propose to wait another minute, nor
did he. We went to the house, and no
hungry child ever evinced greater sat
isfaction in eating than did this little
bird.
Pete is very wilful bird, and am
dAuOSI uIlNcu " Gay thoI AO 10 AAAISAiA
gent. One evening had taken him to
the street for his dust bath, but he
was hungry and did not indulge him
self very long. I had his food with
me, and now and then he made savage
little flights or runs toward 1t. Re-
peatedly I put him back in the dirt,
scraped my finger around IN 1t before
him-that was the stimulus l used to
awaken his instinct-but he would
ruffle his feathers just little and
again dart for the food. tossed him
into the air to make him fly, for felt
that if he were hungry when he flew,
he would be sure to come back quick
ly, but fly he would not. 1t was be-
coming dusk, SO finally fed him, and
he awaited no invitation to fly; but
invitations to return were in vain. He
would alight not very far away, dust
himself vigorously, but would not al
low my close approach as he always
had before. I was fearful of losing
him, but I am almost ready to think
that he was paying me back. After
time he became as docile as you
please Always since, when l have
refused him what he wants, he has
been of1sh in some way or other, and
never when I have treated him as he
seemed to think he ought to be
treated.
One noon after I had fed him and
watered him, and cuddled him little,
he flew as I tossed him into the air.
Over the trees and east he went, up
and away till he was out Of sight.
Then I began his food call. and in a
few seconds he was at my feet trust
full, docile. and apparently happy
bird.
Ultimately we released Pete perma-
nently from his cage, insuring safety
for the night by bringing him in at
dusk
It was a glad day for all Of us when
Pete learned to come to the back door
and ask for food when he did not find
enough in the Observation-Disclosures the
neighborhood is his feeding ground
and the neighbors are his friends. 1t
| was a glad day, too,' when he first
flew to the shelf where he was al
ways fed. Many, many applications
of the food paddle are necessary to
appease his hunger, and then he peeps
for his drink. That administered he
cleans his bill on any convenient
edge, and then wings his way out into
the yard again.
Pete's antics touch me wonderfully
Does he really know me? Does he
trust me? Young people have trusted
me. and seemingly have given me q
sight into their heart Of hearts, and