File:Birds and nature (1906) (14729303636).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature31906chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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ilethe diminutive, size of the Saw-whetlimits its power of usefulness, its modeof life renders it a useful adjunct to thefarmer, and, small though it be, yet indistricts where it abounds the numberof mice it annually destroys must bevery large. Dr. Fisher gives the fol-lowing results of the examination oftwenty-two stomachs, seventeen con-tained mice, one a bird, one an insect,and three were empty. The Saw-whet Owls nest in hollowtrees frequently using the abandoned ex-cavations of woodpeckers and squirrels.They have been known to use nests in theopen. One observer, quoted by MajorBendire, reports one pair which hadused the nest of a night heron. Theyhave also been known to use artificialnesting sites in the form of hollowlimbs hung in forests for them. Usual-ly the eggs are deposited on the debfiswhich the birds found in the cavity se-lected by them. The pure white eggsvary in number from three to seven ina set, and it is probable that both sexesassist in the duties of incubation. 74
Text Appearing After Image:
-ROM COL. CHI. ACAO. SCIENCES 133 SAW-WHET OWL. (Nyctala acadica).I Life-size. COPYRIGHT 1900, BY A. W. MUMFORD, CHICAGO OUR RESIDENT BIRDS IN NORTHERN INDIANA All birds are interesting at all times,but these winter days when the migra-tory season has passed, the residentbirds become doubly so. Since the roseshave blomed, the wheatfields growngreen again, the cornfields gatheredinto Indian wigwams, few insects dart-ing about, and the witch-hazel the soleflowering shrub, it is very pleasant tohave some friends of the bird worldstill here. I am sure of a score or moretill the blue-birds sings cherut or therobin carols wake up, wake up.Oh, it is so cheering to have some ofthem here always! I am not sure butI believe the resident birds are morefriendly in winter than in summer. Ido not mean what has aptly been termedcupboard love, the kind of friendshipthat hunger forces on animals, but theyalways seem less timid when we cometogether in the woods or fields. Probably the best known as well

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