Milford chronicle., 1939-08-11
BIRDS WITH GOLD EYES
Edith Brands

Every summer day Buddy Chan
ming and his mother spent some time
watching the birdbath in the back
yard. Mother looked out of the high
window over the sink where she
washed dishes and prepared vege-
tables for lunch. Buddy watched
from the French door in the dining
room.
On a July morning Buddy said
Mother, see a bird with gold eyes. y
What color are its feathers?"
"All shiny black-green on his
head"
Then, said Mother, hes Father
Blackbird."
May / feed him?"
Here are some scraps of bread.
Put them on the edge of the bath"
Budy placed the bread on the edge
of the bath, while Father Blackbird
retired to the clOthesline and clucked
softly at him. After the boy went
back to the dining room the bird flew
to the bread.
Mother, he's picked up a big
piece. Now he has dipped it in water.
Now he has turned it over and dip
ped the other end. Why did he do
that, Mother?"
Watch and see what he does next.
Maybe you can guess"
A moment later Buddy exclaimed,
HE flew away with the bread in his
beak."
why did he take it away?"
II think he has baby birds in a
nest. He's taking food to them"
THE next time he comes back, "
said Mrs. Charming, well watch
where he goes"
Piece by piece. Father Blackbird
carried away the bread scraps.
Mother and Buddy followed along as
he flew until they located the nest
in a tall tree in Mrs. Mays yard.
They could hear young birds chatter
ing. out of sight among the leaves.
Every day for a week Buddy put
out bread to see what would happen.
Father Blackbird came regularly,
dipped the bread in the water and
flew away with it.
Buddy kept watching for Mother
Blackbird. His mother explained
Maybe the father and mother take
turns finding food and the mother has
located another yard where little
boy puts out bread"
One evening at sundown Buddy and
his mother sat on cushions by the
French door watching the birds get
their baths. Robins first-a dozen
then small spaTrows, came and spat-
tered the shining drops of water.
Then lone baby thrush, his spotted
vest very clean and white, his spots
very dark and beautiful, came alone
and splashed a long time. He was
not afraid of Buddy who went out to
talk to him.
When he was gone, Mrs. Claiming
filed the birdbath with fresh water
for early comers in the morning. Now
they had a surprise. A loud clucking
came from Mrs. Mays yard. Buddy
said. "Oh. oh, here comes Father
Blackbird!"
He came proudly. conducting the
parade of his family. He flew back
and forth, dropping down to encOur-
age a baby bird that could fly only
lew 1eet at q Ilne. ne went loi
ward to show the way; then he flew
back to chatter and cluck at Mother
Blackbird who brought up the rear.
She zig-zagged behind the baby birds
scOlding any that Jagged.
Father Blackbird guided his babies
to the bath. All six of the family
the father, the mother and the four
little Ones-sat ON the edge and dip
ped their beaks into the water. He
showed the babies how to dip and
bathe and how to preen their feath-
ers. Their gold eyes glittered; they
chartered and clucked. Buddy thought
they had wonderful time.
When the bath was over, Father
Blackbird marshalled his family to
low barberry bushes in Buddy's back
yard. and there that night they slept.
So far as Buddy and Mother knew
they never went back to the nest. The
next morning, after another bath,
they few away.
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