Gilpin observer., 1919-10-23


mon here at this season-when, asso-
ciated with tree sparrows and snow
birds and in the bright sunshine Of a
January day, 1t adds its quota to the
fun of winter jubilee. AS has been
well said, his "forlorn, broken-winded
whistle" Is at least amusing" much
more so than the Stiffness uttered about
the bird.
There Is no instance when the whis-
per song is SO readily overheard as
in the case of the white-throated spar
row. Indeed, for days together, as
these birds linger on hills south
side and scarcely move from the thick
ct they frequent, there is little else
heard than the meditative, self-enter-
tanning notes. AS all are singing at
short intervals, it would seem as If no
one individual had time or inclination
to listen to the others
Now, the white-throated sparrow Is
not with us an active bird. 1t is rest
less at times, but not given to violent
exertion. With full stomach, the
height Of its ambition, existence be-
comes a period of restful meditation,
and it is little wonder that with moth
ing else to do these birds should whis-
tie. Not like the cardinal, clear and
loud, or mandatory, as the Carolina
wren, shouting Listen listen listen !"
but like the weary man who Is at last
at his ease, and huns a few notes or
whistles bar or two as an expression
of relief.
lat a vy.Qv ri n
the white throat; occasionally so dis
tinctly that the woods are filled with
the sound, more often set at so low
pitch that you must be very near to
determine that 1t is this, or, indeed,
any, bird that you hear.
think both the tree sparrow and
the snow bird have their whisper
songs. Certainly they twitter without
ceasing except when asleep, and they
are here during those months when
vocal efforts may be classed as neces-
sary rather than voluntary or not mu-
steal for the music's sake. But there
is one variation from this. If you
creep carefully into thicket and wait
until your presence ceases to cause
suspicion, the chances are that you will
hear few low notes of the typical
nesting-day song. Observing the birds
manner at such a time, it reminds one
Of person trying to recall song by
whistling in an undertone. This sure
ly the bird is not doing. but singing
in whispering way to please its pass
ing whim.
Two birds very familiar to the per-
sistent rambler are the tree creeper
and winter wren. Weeks may pass
and you will hear nothing but q chirp,
and often the wren will not SO much
as twitter when alarmed, but patience
will probably be rewarded at least
once in a winter by hearing few
sweet notes, perhaps several times
repeated, and then the old mute man
ner is resumed.
In the case of the tree creeper, the
petulant squeak is not always uttered
even when you go quite near and In
terrupt the birds progress about the
trunk of a tree. The same Is true OF
the winter wren. 1t Is swift and silent
as a mouse at times, and rarely chirps
while here, in winter, except as have
|
that when these two birds do give way
to song there must be some strong
incentive, and the few warbled notes
have no reference to aught beyond
themselves.
The woodpeckers are a noisy race
mechanically and vocally, but no note
of theirs can be called musical, nol
has any the Significance Of thrush's
song. The golden-winged woodpecker
forever screaming. chattering. and
much given to exclamations of sur
prise, occasionally also thinks aloud
for have often surprised 1t. when
alone, chuckling and chattering to It
self, as I have known some very old
women to do.
The surroundings tell the true story
The bird is meditating. Possibly what
have heard is analogous to the grunt
Of satisfaction after full meal. The
song of the English robin has been
stated to lack in autumn "the joyous
ness Of spring, and the bird, in sym
pathy with the departing season
seems to breathe plaintive and mel
ancholy strain" prefer, after much
observation, to use In such instances
among our own birds the term "medi
tntive" rather than melancholy"
In wondrous contrast to the wood
peckers are the two foremost resi-
dent song birds. as Joyous and as given
to singing in January as in June. These
are the Carolina wren and crested tit
Either can be heard n full half-mlle
away on still, clear day; yet have
surprised both these birds singing their
familiar songs, or parts Of them, in SC
low key that 1t was by mere chance
that heard them at all. These birds
clearly indicate that whisper songs