Evening star., 1927-05-29
BY CHARLES l.. BAKER.


the bones and counted the feathers.
The possibility of there being field
of real sport and fascinating discovery
for the neophyte. or the uninitiated, In
this branch of the animal kingdom,
would have appeared absurd to most
persons. That day has long since
passed and the enthusiastic dissent
nation of bird lore and the almost un-
limited library devoted to bird life now
available to all have placed an oppor-
tunity to develop a knowledge of orni-
thology within reach Of every one.
Today thousands of men, women
and children in various parts of the
world are employing much of their
leisure in becoming acquainted with
the birds within their respective neigh
borhoods.
To many persons the assertion that
the fields, meadows and woods sur
rounding Washington, especially that
part of the country known as Fairfax
County. Va. are unusually rich in bird
life will come as n great surprise, If
not. indeed. as an almost unbelievable
myth. There are, no doubt, many
lovers of birds who long ago have dis
covered this fact: and Vet. to many
WashingtonianS who have only a cas-
ual interest in the study of ornithol-
ogy, but who. at the same time, have
q slight acquaintance with the more
common birds. and. in a haZy, indie
Unable sort of way, have enjoyed hear
ing the lovely voices of the happy, lit
tie SongsterS, il may appear to be
somewhat ridiculous to declare that
an unusual opportunity to see and
hear great variety of brilliant-col
ored golden-voiced birds is right at
the door. In fact. probably no section
of the United States offers greater
possibilities for interesting and salts
flying bird study and obsfvation.
The beauty of color and the lowell
ness of song of the little friends Of the
highways and byways, the birds, hold
an intense interest. The gorgeous col
ors of the plumage and the lovely
melodies that come from the marvel
Gus throats in an amazing variety of
tonal quality awaken keen desire
10 know more about these wonderful
little musicians and friends of man
kind.
More than 25 years ago began the
study of birds, purely from the es-
1hetic sid and it has continued
through the years, with undiminished
enthusiasm, down to the present day.
These studies have been made large
1y afield, and the tramps in search of
bird lore have led through the Adj
rondack Mountains of New York State,
over very much of Maine, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Massachusetts and
Connecticut. as well as here and there
in many of the Southern States.
Three years ago 1 bought small
farm near Falls Church, Va. Great
has been my surprise and delight to
find that the home is situated in the
midst of a veritable bird paradise.
have been in many parts of the coun-
try in which bird neighbors seem to
include almost all the sweet singers
and the gayly garbed members of this
great class. 1t seems, however, that
never have / seen SO many different
Varieties-considering the whole year
through-as l have seen right here in
Fairfax County.
The field of observation in this Sec
tion has included a good deal of the
woods and fields lying between Falls
Church and Great Falls, and 128 diff
ferent varieties of birds have been
identified and entered in the notebook.
OF course, many of these birds are
migratory to this section, and they
are with us for only a few days in the
Spring and then again for a few days
during the Fall. They remain long
enough, nevertheless, especially dur
ing the Spring migratory season, to
their inspiring songs and to delight us
with their gorgeous plumage.
In April, we are especially fortu.
nate in having with us, as Spring
visitors, the swhite-thEoated sparrows
and the white.cfowTed sparrows
These inconspicuous little chaps, are
purely migratory here-more is the
pity. Their real Summer home, where
the family is reared, ranges northWard
la1 &tHn I><. -
United States. In the far north, the
Canadians describe their song as a
plaintive elp-poor-Canada, Cana
d." The clear-voiced whistle of this
bird is known to many persons who
really never have seen him.
While there is much variation in
the arrangement of the notes of the
white-throat, the intervals of the song
conform closely to the musical scale.
The song of the white-throat touches
a chord of sympathy within me, as
does the song of no other bird, al.
though it is true that there are many
birds whose songs are of much greater
beauty. The white-throat suggests the
great forest, and the sparkling lakes
OF the North Country, "the land Of the
sky-blue water; and it recalls the
many happy months, scattered
through the past % years, which have
been spent in that fair land of dreams.
A few weeks ago, while in the vi
cinity Of Great Falls, / was greatly
pleased to see Blackburnian war
bier. Among the warblers, We shall
find none more beautiful than this
flame-breasted little creature of the
higher branches of the spruce and the
hemlock. hTe song of the Blackburn
nian is one of the most cheerful Of all
bird music. One who does not know
the Blackburnian and his song Is
missing real pleasure.
On the same trip, and perhaps a
mile farther up the river, came upon
a hermit thrush. All, friends, the
hermit thrush! Who, that has heard
the rapturous song of the hermit, can
eyer forget the surprising beauty of
it? He is the premier songster of
American song birds, but he is with
us. here, for only a few days early in
April. He rarely, or never, sings at
this season and his song. while mi
grating, is but an echo of the heaven
ly melody that pourS from his magical
throat at his Summer home in the
Northern wilds. The hermit is a real
recluse and the full beauty of his
song can be heard only in the deep
forest in which he lives during the
nesting period. Unfortunately, it is
for only the favored few who are
lucky enough to he spending a season
in the vicinity of his Summer home.
A small bird which receives little
in the way of enthusiastic praise and
one which is seldom, or never, spoken
Of as being especially attractive, is
the tiny, black masked Maryland yel-
low-throat. His fidgety inquisitive-
ness as he fits about in the bushy
underground along roadsides and
|, tiC
rollicking wichy-wichy wichy-wee song
IS one of the real delights of the coun-
try lane and the wooded hillside.
Seldom, if ever. DO we read any,