The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-11-01
WHEN THE BIRDS RETIRE
whas .ka DInsrsns Esa.harea &C..

I Whist the Different Feathered crea.
lures do at ,NishtsaH.
Children often ask where all the
birds go at night. 1t would seem to
one not familiar with bird life that
many OF our feather visitors find diff
fculty in securing suitable places In
which to spend the night.
An observer win notice that birds
become quite active as twilight ap-
proacIles. Many kinds such as black
birds and crows have regular haunts,
and as the sun nears the western
horizon thousands Of these birds may
be seen flying in great hocks toward
certain orchard OF grove. Many
select q thicket in some lonely hol-
low, while others win select some
large lawn where shade trees stand
hollow with trees and bushes on all
sides. where they form a sort Of
rookery. They like dead trees to
roost on, and in some places they
visit certain favored spots until their
continued occupancy kills many of the
trees.
Crows and blackbirds are quiet dur
ing the dark hours if unmolested, but
occasionally some enemy besides the
human hunter will disturb them, and
there is a great chatter and fluter-
ing of wings A hungry owl on a cat
with some of its wild nature still re-
naming will frequently visit such a
place, and Of course has no trouble
in obtaining a meal Such visitor
often disturbs those near, and the
frightened birds will hutter away in
the darkness to seek another roost-
ing place.
Swallows, after day spent in skim
ming the air and catching hundreds
of insects, will seek a roostng place
at night. The chimney swift viii soar
and dart about until after sunset and
then suddenly dive into some Chin
ney. The birds have very sharp
pointed slaws and cling on the sides
of the sooty fues. Old or unoccupied
factory smolzestaefzs make excellent
places for the chimney swallows to
roost In vast numbers,
In early spring before robins begin
to nest these birds gather in large
numbers in some group Of trees or
grove, where they sing until almost
dark. and then they remain quiet IN
It'll the first signs of day, when they
break forth In song, filing the air
with the sweetest of music AS soon
as they begin nesting each pair seeks
a sheltered roosting place near the
spot selected to raise their brood. At
ter the first egg is deposited in the
nest and until the young birds are
able to leave one of the robins re-
mains on the nest while TIE other
sits near on some limb. When the
young birds can fly the parents in
duce them to go with them to some
protected thicket or sheltered loca-
!tion
Some birds roost in very exposed
places. Others will select protected
spots and secrete themselves in such
a manner in the foliage of the trees
and vines that even their enemies
cannot fna them. Many birds choose
a natural shelter from the rains By
getting beneath 8 Leaf which she'd
the water from them, while others
sit out in the open, taking the stoT
In all its fury.
Many birds roost upon the ground
All sorts Of places are chosen. Quail
sit in a circle with their heads out,
always ready to fly if disturbed.
They have been seen sitting in snch
position in daylight Many small
birds roost inAlarge weeds, and many
select a tuft of grass in which to
gpead the dark hours. Other birds
build their nests on the gFound in
pastures and meadows. and while the
mother bird is Matching and caring
for tie brood the male bird IS always
near at hand on the alert or gathering
grubs or insects for the little ones.
al night the male bird remains near
the, nest. and in some instances both
parents sit On the little nest
A few birds that prey upon others
and destroy both birds and eggs re
main wide awake all night and fly
about doing all the harm they can
Some birds sing at night. but most
Of them remain silent.