--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Moreton, Cora - Parratt, D. W. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 19 number: 2 published: 1915-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Moreton, Cora; Parratt, D. W., "The Red-Winged Blackbird: Outlines for Scout Workers," *Improvement Era* 19, no. 2 (December 1915): 159–162.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1902unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1902unse start_page: 159 end_page: 162 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1902unse publication_year: 1915 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Red-Winged Blackbird: Outlines for Scout Workers Outlines for Scout Workers BY MISS CORA MORETON AND D. W. PARRATT V. THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD The blackbirds make the maple ring With social chatter and jubilee; The red-winged flutes his "O-ka-lee." — E^merson. 1. Why are blackbirds so-called? By what other three names is the red-winged blackbird also known? Name another kind of black- bird common to our rgion. 2. To which family do these birds belong? What other birds thus far stadied, belong to this family? 3. Note size, color, markings, and shape of the red-winged black- bird. 4. Contrast the males and females in size and color and explain why the difference. 5. Which is the better songster, the male or the female? Why? During which season does it sing the most? Why then? 6. Where and of what do they build nests? Why there? 7. Tell of the color, number, and markings of eggs. How many settings are usually laid in a season? 8. On what does the blackbird subsist and how is it adapted to procure its food? 9. Do they go in pairs or in flocks? What advantage is there in this? 10. Mention some natural enemies of this bird and tell how it protects itself against them. 11. When on the ground does it walk or hop? Name another bird which does this. 12. In what kind of places, uplands or swamps, does the black- bird roost? . 160 IMPROVEMENT ERA 13. In relationship to other birds, is the blackbird a good neigh- bor? Why? 14. Where do our blackbirds winter? 15. Should they be protected? Why? What does our state law- provide on this point? HANDY MATERIAL A splendid young blackbird built in a tree; A spruce little fellow as ever could be; His bill was so yellow, his feathers so black, So long was his tail, and so glossy his back, That good Mrs. B., who sat hatching her eggs, And only just left them to stretch her poor legs, And pick for a minute the worm she preferred, Thought there never was seen such a beautiful bird. D. M. Mulock The red-wing belongs to the blackbird family. Other mem- bers of this family are meadow-lark, bobolink, cowbird, orioles, and Brewer's blackbird. The predominant colors of all these are black and yellow. The red-winged blackbird is so named from the beautiful red on the wings of the male birds. This partic- ular blackbird is also known as the swamp blackbird, the red- winged oriole, and the red-winged starling. It is common through- out North America, while the yellow headed blackbird, so often seen in our localities, is confined almost wholly to Weistern North America. The length of the red-winged blackbird varies from seven and one-half to nine and one-half inches. The male is coal black except the shoulders which are bright scarlet edged with light huff. The female has her upper parts dull buff and black, streaked ; the under parts streaked blackish and white ; the throat tinged with dull orange buff; and the shoulders sometimes tinged with pinkish red. The male is larger and more attractive than the female. His feathers are glossy and the bright red on his wings stands out con- spicuously against the pure black surrounding it. He is plumed in his best in the early spring during mating season. His attractive gown and winning "O-ka-lee" serve to induce the female to choose him as her favored companion. The fellow with the most hand- some clothes and charming voice stands the best chance of secur- ing coveted attentions from the females. The female does the choosing of her companion and therefore has not the need for at- tractive colors and winning songs. Her chief concern is sitting and caring for her young and, in this, dull colors are a decided ad- vantage in protecting her against ever present enemies. The male's notes are liquid in quality, suggestive of the sweet, moist retreats where the blackbird nests. He ascends the scale and seems to say "con-quer-ee" or "o-ka-lee." He very often sings while on the wing. OUTLINES FOR SCOUT WORKERS 161 The eggs, from three to five in number, are very pale green- ish blue or pearly white, with either blotches or scrawls of dark purplish brown, faint cloudy blotches of dull purple brown, and spots of black. Some few have no distinct markings. There are usually two settings, one in May and the other late in June or early in July. The nests ordinarily are built in rushes or reeds out in swamps away from the reach of coyotes, snakes, and the like. Nearly seven-eighths of the red-wing's food is made up of weed seeds or insects injurious to agriculture. His feet are strong for ground feeding and his long, conical bill adapts him for in- sectivorous diet. The blackbirds go in great flocks, thus protecting themselves from bird enemies. It is interesting to note that the males and the females commonly go in separate flocks. Though the blackbirds spend the greater part of the day in fields and meadows, they always return to the swamps at evening to roost. They are very sociable birds and may be seen enjoying the company of other kinds of birds, and are willing to associate with any bird with whom they can "scrape an acquaintance." The migration of our red-wings is for but a short distance. Many of them never go out of our state, and often they go no farther than Utah Valley. For the splendid services rendered, all blackbirds should receive the best of protection at our hands. The state laws re- garding insectivorous birds, nature-study clubs, boy scouts, and especially the splendid work in many schools and religious or- ganizations, all contribute to the neede'd preservation of our beau- tiful feathered friend. THE BLACKBIRD O blackbird! sing me something well; While all the neighbors shoot thee round, I keep smooth plats of fruitful ground, Where thou may'st warble, eat, and dwell. The espaliers and the standards all Are thine; the range of lawn and park The unnetted blackhearts ripen dark, All thine, against the garden wall. Yet, tho' I spared thee all the spring, Thy sole delight is, sitting still. With that cold dagger of thy bill To fret the summer jenneting. A golden bill! the silver tongue, Cold February loved, is dry; Plenty corrupts the melody That made thee famous once, when young; 162 IMPROVEMENT ERA And in the sultry garden squares, Now thy flute notes are changed to coarse, I hear thee not at all, or hoarse As when a liawker hawks his wares. Take warning! he that will not sing While yon sun prospers in the blue, Shall sing for want, ere leaves are new, Caught in the frozen palms of Spring. Alfred Tennyson. Pajarito ["The Pajarito (little-bird) mountain, which is boldly outlined just west of Colonia Dublan," says the author, "is said by the Mex- icans to be the shelter of the birds. Whether or not the Mexican belief concerning it is literally true, it is a fact that in the evening, V,r s„, birds' both ^eat and small, may be seen flying away to the West. ] See in the west yon far purple mountain, Clearly outlined in the sun's lingering light, Spreading her wings as to shelter her fledglings, Proudly secure in her distance and height. There in cliffs and the rocks overhanging, Close in the hold of her heart, snug and warm, Thousands of birdlings each year find a shelter, Building their nests from danger and harm. Soon as the morn, with golden-tipped arrows, Pierces the mist that envelopes the sky, Each birdie stirs in its nest and grows restless, Eager to spread out its wings and to fly. Out from the shelter of cranny and crevice, Out from the cliff-mother bosom they spring; Filling the air with a silvery cadence, Cleaving the sky with a gladsome wing. Over the valley, far over and downward, — Down where the fields lay melow and white, — Down 'mongst the grasses and sweet-scented clover, Choosing at will the end of their flight. Back they all fly in the gathering twilight, Winging their way to the old mountain nest; Wounded and sore and with wings bruised and aching; — Back to the far Pajarito and rest. In my heart Pajarito, all stirring and restless, My thoughts like so many birdlings cling. In the sweet, balmy morn they spring from my bosom, Mounting the sky with an eager wing. Tenderly, then, I will watch where they wander, Snug and apart I will keep the old nest; For I know that at eve they will come winging homeward, Weary and bruised on my heart to rest. Viva Huish Ray.