Arizona republican., 1921-02-13

list of species observed when on a trip, In making notes on a bird that you do not know. it is well to state the size by comparing it with some bird you know, as for example. smaller than an English sparrow" or about the size of a robin" Try to determine the true color of the birds and record these, also note the shape and ap- proximate length of the bill This for example, may be short and conical, like a canary's. awl-shaped like the bill of warbler. or very long and slender like that of a snipe. AS further aid to subsequent Identification it is well to record the place where the bird was seen, for example. hopping up the side of tree. wading in marsh, circling about in the air, or feeding on sun flowers. Such secondary information, which often a valuable aid to identi- fication would in itself hardly be suf- ficient to enable an ornithologist to render the service desired. There are a number of inexpensive books which contain illustrations of birds in natural colors and one of these will be of the greatest aid to the beginner in bird study.
 One does not get very far in the work of bird study without discovering that certain movements are charac- teristic of various families. but when the observer is able to recognize this difference in movement and manner a long step has been taken in acquiring the power of Identifying species. Af- 1 ter watching for time the actions of wocdpecker as 1t clings to the side of tree. or hops along its bark, one is | quick to recognize the woodpecker manner when some other species oi that family is encountered.
 | Once identify a barn swallow cours- l ing through the air and a long atride Is made towards the Identification oi the cliff or tree swallow when one swings into view.
 In view of the fact that birds dis play much activity about their nests the nesting bird Once locate an occu- pied nest, and by watching quietly fol a time, your field glass and bird | guide will usually enable you to learr l the owners name. In nest hunting keep a sharp watch on every bird sus- pected of being interested in domestic affairs, you are pretty sure to see one
 
 or something of the kind in its bill Now watch closely, for you are in z l fair way to discover the nest. The bird may not go directly to the spo | if it suspects it is being watched-i \ may hop from twig to twig and iron brush to brush for many minutes be. fore revealing its secret, and if it be- | comes very apprehensive it may ever I drop its burden and begin a searcI for insects with the air of one wht had never even dreamed of building { nest.
 1 Early in the morning is the besI time of the day to find birds working at their nests, for then they are mos | active. Perhaps a reason for this il l that the broken twfgs, leaves and dea6 I grass, wet with the dews of night, arr more pliable and consequently mort easily woven into place. Almost thu first thing every bird thinks of wher he comes to us is making a nest, fol l summer is the only time in his lifs | that a bird has a home. He does mol 1 need house to live in. he cares noth- ing for roof to cover him, because l when the sun is hot he has the broad green leaves on the trees to shade hin and when it rains his neat feather coat is like waterproof that lets tn. 1 drops run off, leaving him warm anG | dry under it.
 He does not need a dining room be cause he eats wherever he finds hi food, and he wants no kitchen becaus, I he prefers his food raw. He has nt use for a bedroom because he cal sleep on twig and the whole work l is his bedroom, so when the bir( fathers and mothers come in the spring