New-York tribune., 1919-04-13
Rarifies i'm a
Backyard

~N-0i AAia HiOi-N pains are 1lCn nuntlnG
grounds for every bird lover. You expect to
see birds there and you are never disap-
pointed. How many of my readers, how
ever, would expect to see some of the rare
wood warblers and shyest of woodland birds
IN our city squares or city backyardo
For many springs | have carried nv glass
in my pocket as | have walked uptown
always with an eye out for fitting wings
IN Washington, Madison and Union squares.
and | have been repaid hundredfold each
year seeing the unexpected bird-uneX
pected l mean, and unobserved by the thou
sands who walk through these squares morn
ing and evening or sit on the benches in
the sunshine at the lunch hour.
The surprising thing to the bird lover
is the apparent Indifference of the shvest
BIRDS to the passing throng and the bust
nessllke way they hunt among the trees
and parade the lawns for insects. and that
dainty morsel loved by the robins esoe-
oialy, the angleworm In Union SQUARE
/ have seen in May the chestnut and black
towhee, shy bird of the underbrusb tho
long tailed brown thrashcr. the white
'hroated sparrow, the ovenbird, the her
init thrush with his bright reddish tail. the
Veery thrush, catbird. Madison Square. with
its wider lawn, has larger guest record.
Here, from year to year, [ have found tow
hees, brown thrashers, ovenbirds-vou can
easily know them By their walking--white-
throated sparrows, catbirds veories. tho
biack-throated green warbler scarlet tana-
gers and wrens. The tanagcrs have bnen
seen IN City Hall Park In Madison Sonaro
one year ago counted one morning thir-
teen ovenbirds. four towhees three brown
thrashers, three scarlet tanagcrs, cat
bird' veery and purple grackles
have come to expect seeing some Of these
blrds IN our city squares, but in the back
yards look out on, with their scragely
old ailanthus trees, have seen the birds
tnat have offered me the joy of the unex
pected, the mood Of the woodland, the ncrn-
ory oil carly mornings and peaceful evenings
IN the quiet country. The rattle Of the
utrcetcars and the roar Of the elevated
are Of my dawn music, and only plimnae
small bit Of sky above the surrou,d,n,
roofs and the round towers Of the vator
tanks. 1t was in the dawn one MAY nornin,,
tnat walking, still on the bordcrland of
o'eeP' l heard the thrush note, the note of
the ethereal, note of sweet bells in tho
SOUNDS OF singing water 1t sounded far
away and thought of the woods. Of tho
Dawn light over the hills, of the stir Of
'ne morning winds in the forest. With nv
glass saw the musician, an olive backed
thrush, on the ailanthus tree. He ca.
tnere forgetting, he made me foroet
tne sordid city yards, lifting up his sweet
voice IN praise of the new day. 1t was bis
matin song, he was my celestial cho;r
leader He stayed for two davs. s;roin,,
again the second morning The ailantb,s
mas nad other guests, but mono that brought
JUST the same message Among others
tnere have been a Canadian warbler with
his necklace OF dark pendants on his breast
ycliow-bellied fYcatchcr. a redstart a
cnebec or fycatcher, an ovenbird who called
ior teacher, a magnolia warbler with his
3eHo"-striped body and white wing patch
scarlet tanager, red-eyed virco, a MARYLAND
yeilow-throat, the tiny yellow chap with the
plack burglars mask across his forehead.
singing witchery. wjtchery, witchery,