February Birds BY MORGAN ST. JOHN (aged 12) Grammar School, Ithaca, N. Y. N the morning of February ig we went on a walk in search of birds and nests. On our way to the swamp we saw, on one short block, sixteen Orioles' nests. These nests are always hung on drooping branches. They look like little bags on the branches of elm trees. The Orioles weave their nests. Some of them are made from milkweed bark, or of moss, grass, or even of silk and thread. We also saw a great many Robins' nests, which are carelessly built of mud and grass. The grass is on the outside, the lining is of mud. Mistress Robin is certainly a sloven housekeeper, and the cup- like nests are lodged in the forks of trees in such a way that a heavy shower or wind brings many of them to the ground. Crows' nests are built usually in evergreens. We saw them in swamp maples. One of these was about thirty-five feet from the ground. It was made of sticks and twigs, thrown loosely together and lined with cedar bark. The ground was covered with snow, and we saw in all directions tracks of some bird with three toes in front and one long toe behind. We found that these tracks were made by the Partridge, or Ruffed Grouse. These tracks are remarkably curious, because they are wider than the birds' feet. I found it was because in the winter time little stiff bristles grow around each toe and make little "snow- shoes." With these winter shoes on the bird does not sink in the snow. These snowshoes begin to grow in the autumn and are gone by April. We did not see the Partridge, but we saw dead logs where he had been to pick off the bark to find the bugs and worms. Another interesting track is made by the Partridge. When the bird runs he takes long steps and drags his hind toe. This makes a mark which gives you an idea his toe is longer than his tracks. We saw a Downy Woodpecker. This one was a female. She was about the size of an English Sparrow. She is like the male bird, except she has no red patch on the back of her neck. This (23)
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