Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-25
birds I HAVE STUDIED AND
ADMIRED.

many lutte incidents in which the
birds play the lcad.ni; parts.
;" many ,nisch!cv boys do all In
their power to destroy bird life, but
thI5 ought not % be allowed.
Among the few sets OF birds that
come back TO their nesting haumtS in
IN" spring are The yellow ncaHcd
"IhSh ores. common IN the Eastern
ahu southern potion OF North Amer
Ten. These birds usually travel in
colonies that inhab!t swampy places.
whien contain water and reeds. The
maze hiri - very beautiful one, his
BODY being entirely black except for
Iht htch and head, which are red
n!Sn Sti.ow. the wings are black eX-
cept Tor 4 small broad stripe OF whit.
itdtheis. which grow near the base
oil the wing. The bill is Il Srayish
color and very pointed: feathers run
from the broadcast side OF the bill to
the eye on both sides OF the head The
female bird is smaller than the male
h.hd being ALI yellow, it is strcakcd
"!th h!ack. After the nesting sea-
son Is over these birds fly TO the
south. IN company with "A few other
.sS. 5ut once again these birds
come back and eat all the grub
worms and insects they can got; be-
!nS great help to the farmer.
Another member OF the bird f1mi.y
who returns every spring. is the
purple martin. lust as the month Of
April bids US farewell. the merry.
s"inparhtiveiy large member OF the
swallow family arrives from the
warmth OF the South TO greet us with
ms Joyful warbling twitter ana to
SHOW on his skill at swimming the
waters OF the nearby ponds. II is
much pleasure 10 watch the purple
martin as he would clcavc the air
with several easy Hops OF his wings.
ana the next moment he would be
descending To the surface of the wa
Ter, a.ons which he would coast with
graceful elegance. The martin pre-
icE% hirdhuuse rather than II tree.
ana lives ON insects, spiders. etc.
ihcy are found in almost all parts of
America, except in Northern Canada
rhey winter In South America.
The mockinghirL makes his home
IN the states where the climate is
not ;" severely cold. The mockinf
o.ri has the most beautiful voice OF
any bird know; no bird can natch
ms pretty notes. lie can initiate any
para That he hears, from a hob wh!tr
To Jay tird. He glatdens the hearts
ana nave heavy heart, once YOU
near TINS bird aud your sorrow will
disappear. some people cage" this
pro. nut they ought not to. because
uothcg nature intended :or him. This
| bird, above ali others, is my favoritc
The little iuUco bird has one very
peculiar habit. one that very, very
rev others have. He migrates North
when srrinE comes instead Of stay
InI with US through the summer.
He prefers the snow, cold and chang
inS weather OF winter 10 the warm.
AS far north as Alaska you can lind
this modest little junco bird hunting
his livelihood in the snow Although
THIS little bird does no, sing much.
II has song Just the same, about
All we, who live in the United States.
hear of him is 4 low 'tslp" repeated
now and then as he hops here and
his daily bread" Bu, ,hsn matimg
season comes, the Northern resident
who watches and studies tho junco
hears another note, sweet. modest
thrill, as unassumIng as the little
fellow himself. is heard as he woos
his mate. The iunco has n peaceful,
Sweet disposition and is cheerful
no leaves. us in the spring for tho
cold black North--;o return again
when summer has naSsed and we are
onSe again wrapped in King SHOWS
mantle OF white,
The rose breasted Eroshcak Is a
very beautiful bird and everybody
should Try to protect ii. II Us one OF
that il finds in fields here he wind
has blown. the snow away. This bird
is about the size OF n common house
sparrow
These are just a few of the birds
mat | have learned 10 study and TO
admire. Will now close my article
with this little piece OF poetry:
Ever spent n day in June
Down by the riverside.
Listening 10 the pretty birds
Singing their sweet carols wide.
The mockingbird sings very high.
Ana then again sings low;
You cannot keep from hearing him
NO matter where you go.
The robin calls to his fair mate
In mild and gentle tones:
loi do not hnd this pretty bird
In all the pleasant zones.
Tho bats are very funny birds.
And hy about at night.
To look At them long ways off
They seem TO look fright.
The bluehrd sits upon a tree
=, Ana looks down on the ground;
She sees II place to build her mes.
And begins 10 fly around.
The, swallows love to build their nest
~ Aiong the chimney wall;
They build their nest so tightly
That they hardly ever fail.
The wrens are little timid birds
Ana build around the house;
Fhe baby wren is very sweet.
AS quiet as Il mouse.
The owl is great big bird,
Soaring all the little birds
Ana giving them fright.
The peacock is pretty bird,
Ana lives around the farm;
Tie never seems TO bother you,
And never does, a harm.
SI'nEpr po>,rr,