The Believing Years

o accustomed are we to associate one with the other. All the wild riotous singing, all the brave flashing of wings and tail, all the mad dashing

holding expressions of parental love and solicitude. Most people, therefore, are interested in such spring bird life as comes to their notice, the extent of th

d States and Canada knows the Robin, Crow, and English Sparrow; in the South most people are acquainted with the Mockingbird and Turkey Buzzard;

ne may learn more about a bird's habits by closely observing its movements for a few hours at this season than by watching it for a month later on. The life that centres about the nest is most absorbing. Few sights are more stimulating to interest in outdoor life tha

iterally visited to death by well-meaning people, with the best of intentions. The parents become discouraged by constantly recurring alarms and desert the nest, or a cat will follow the path made through the weeds and leave

ests containing eggs. The next morning I took out a friend to share the pleasure of my discoveries. We found every nest destroyed and the eggs eaten. My trail the evening before lay through cultivated fields, and it was thus easy for us to find in the soft ground the tracks of the fox or small dog that, during the night, had followed the trail with

t Followed

not to rush headlong through the woods, talking loudly to a companion, stepping upon brittle twigs, and crashing through the underbrush. Go quietly, stopping to listen every few steps. Make no violent motions, as such actions often frighten a bird more than a noise. Do not wear brightly coloured clothing, but garments of neutral tones which blend well with the surroundings of field and wood. It is a good idea to sit silently for a time on some log or stump, and soon the birds will come about you, for they seldom notice a person who is motionless. A great aid to field study is a

man speech so that they may be recalled later with sufficient accuracy to identify the singer. It is well to keep a list of the species observed when on a trip. For many years in my field excursions I have kept careful lists of the b

true colours of the birds and record these. Also note the shape and approximate length of the bill. This, for example, may be short and conical like a Canary's, awl-shaped like the bill of a Warbler, or very long and slender like

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side of a tree," "wading in a marsh," "circling about in the air," or "feeding on dandelions." Such secondary information, while of

xperienced boy enthusiast, who was a member of a newly formed nature-study class. Here is the exact wording of the communicatio

ssociation of Audubon Societies, New York City. This is very useful in recording descriptions of birds. (See sample,

e of repor

in bird study. Among the most useful are the Reed's, "Bird Guides," one covering the birds of the eastern and the other those of the western part of the United States

f accuracy, just what species may or may not be expected to appear in a given locality. Such lists are usually first published in T

he species known to occur in the State. Every bird student should, if possible, get a copy of his own State bird book. Any reader who may wish to l

rtain movements are characteristic of various families; and when the observer is able to recognize

Warbler of some kind when a Redstart or Chestnut-sided Warbler appears. Once identify a Barn Swallow coursing through the air, and a long stride is made toward the identification of the Cliff or Tree Swallow when one swings into view. The flight of the Flicker, the Goldfinch, the Nighthawk, and the Sparrow Hawk, is so characteristic in each case that I

ne's self from view with whatever articles are at hand that resemble the natural surroundings. This may

t way managed to get a close view of the large flocks of Cormorants that came there to roost every night. The

ains of Arizona, a Canyon Wren alighted on my back, for I was covered with an old tent fly so spotted with mildew that it closely resembled

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d sewed so as to make a curtain that will reach the ground all round. A draw-string will make it fit over the top. Get inside, cut a few vertical observation slits six inches long, and your work is done. Erect this within ten feet of a nest, and leave it alone for a few hours. The birds will quickly get accustomed to it so that la

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res to start afield properly equipped. To summarize them, all that is really necessary is a fi

some of the things to be learned in

will be found of great aid to the

a," by Frank M. Chapman, published by D. A

by Florence Merriam Bailey, published by Hou

rrots to Blue Birds," by Chester A. Reed, published by Doubleday, Page & Company,

ssociation of Audubon Societies, New York City, a