Outlines for Scout Workers

Outlines for Scout Workers

BY D. W. PARRATT, B. S.

VI. THE MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD.

Soft warbling noteFrom azure throat,Floats on the gentle air of spring;To my quick earIt doth appearThe sweetest of the birds that sing.

C. C. M.

1. Why is the mountain bluebird so named? What other kindsof bluebirds are there? What is the difference between these and themountain bluebird?

2. To what family does the bluebird belong? How can you tell?What other bird already studied belongs to this family0

.3. The bluebird prefers to live in what kind of places, highlandor lowland'-' In which parts of our valley is it usually found? Wheredocs it spend the winter?

4. Contrast the male and female in size and color. Why thesedifferences?

5. Contrast the song of the male with that of the female and r-plain the difference.

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6. Describe the flight of the bluebird.

7. Upon what does this bird subsist?

8. Where and of what is the nest usually built?

9. Note number, size, and color of eggs. How many broods areordinarily hatched in a season?

10. Name some enemies of the bluebird and explain how it pro-tects itself against them.

11. Is this a desirable bird? Give at least two reasons for youranswer. What laws have we relating to this bird?

12. Explain how to make and hang a nesting box for the bluebird.

HANDY MATERIAL

THE BLUEBIRD

He flits through the orchard, he visits each tree,

The red flowering peach and the apple's sweet blossoms.The fruit-bearing products, wherever they be,

And seizes the caitiffs that lurk in their bosoms;He drags the vile grub from the corn it devours,

The worms from their beds where they riot and welter;His song and his services freely are ours

And all that he asks is, in summer, a shelter.

—Wilson.

The bluebird is so named from its predominant color. ThePacific coast species as well as the eastern bluebird have consid-erable brown underneath, while that found quite generallythroughout the western mountains is almost wholly blue.

The characteristic spots on the breasts of the young- readilyclassify this beautiful warbler with robins and solitaires—that is,in the thrush family.

Our mountain bluebird is quite generally distributed overthe plateau region and lives usually in the valleys and canyonswhere proper food may be had. Many spend their winter monthsin our warmer valleys and even the coldest valleys are visited bythem very early in the year. The latter part of February as arule sees flocks of the male birds in our midst, particularly alongour foot hills searching out suitable nesting places to offer asinducements for mating to the female birds which arrive sometime later.

At this time the male is dressed in his most attractive colors.His beautiful cerulean back is darker, the pale blue below clearer,and the whitish belly cleaner than usual. He needs these extrabright colors, for the mating season is on. Besides his fineclothes, he makes use of his sweetest song, a charming refrain,•'Purity! Purity! T—oh—purity. Dear! Dear! Think of it, think..fit!"'

Since the female is the one who does the selecting of a mate,she is not obliged to wear such showy colors or sing such attrac-tive songs. She is of a pale, bluish gray color with upper tailcoverts, wings and tail bluish ; below she is a pale gray and whit-

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ish. The duller colors of her gown, harmonizing with surround-ing hues and tints, afford greater protection, especially during thetime of nesting. She has no song, but in answer to the male'slow whistle call, gives the two-syllabled reply so familiar to allacquainted with the bluebird.

The easy, graceful, but uncertain flight is a noticeable char-acteristic of this bird. It often remains stationary in the air whilewatching for prey and then, darting down suddenly, seizes theprey, and makes for the nest.

The bluebird's food consists principally of weevils, berries,and small fruits, also beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, andcaterpillars.

These friendly birds seem especially fond of building theirnest in some protected place near a house. Both male and femalebusy themselves in nest making. The nest is composed merelyof a few wisps of straw with a limited number of feathers for alining. The choicest place for the nest is in some decayed tree orin deserted woodpecker holes. Often the nest is made in mailboxes by the roadside. Both birds keep the nest sanitary bycarrying the waste and dropping it some distance away.

Five or six pale blue eggs constitute a setting, and ordinarilytwo broods are hatched each year, though three are not uncom-mon.

Cats, snakes, and ignorant boys and men are the bluebird'sworst enemies. The first are warded off by flight and by thebirds roosting on limbs out of the cat's reach. Besides, the blue-bird protects itself while nesting by usually making the nest in aplace having an entrance too small to admit cats and like enemies.And also, the nest site is usually in some barren tree or post notvery attractive to troublesome snakes. When the nest is molestedby intruding enemies both male and female defend it with sur-prising courage.

Our state laws against killing insectivorous birds are made toinclude the bluebird and our City ordinances relative to firearmsand flippers are doing much to protect this charming creature.

Properly made nesting boxes put out along our foot hills andbench lands are almost certain to attract bluebirds. Such a boxshould have a floor space of about five by five inches; the wallsshould be about eight inches high, and in one side about six inchesfrom the bottom, a one and one-half inch opening (square orround) should be made to serve as an entrance. The box shoul 1then be suspended in a place open to the sunlight and from fiveto ten feet above the ground. If hung in the shade a contest islikely to incur between wrens and bluebirds for possession of the-box; and if fastened securely instead of hanging", the box will inall likelihood be the object of dispute between the bluebirds andEnglish sparrows. A weather beaten box will prove more invit-

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ing to the bluebirds than will a brand new one, therefore theboxes should be hung out some time before they are to be occu-pied. However, on this point, the bluebird is not nearly so par-ticular as are some others of our feathered friends.

THE BLUEBIRD'S SONG

"I know the song that the bluebird is singing,Out in the apple-tree where he is swinging;Brave little fellow! the skies may be dreary;Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery.

"Hark! how the music leaps out of his throat;Hark! was there ever so merry a note?Listen awhile, and you'll hear what he's saying,Up in the apple-tree swinging and swaying.

"Dear little blossoms down under the snow,You must be weary of winter I know;Hark while I sing you a message of cheer—Summer is coming! and spring-time is here.

"Little white snowdrop! I pray you arise;Bright yellow crocus; come open your eyes;Sweet little violets, hid from the cold,Put on your mantles of purple and gold;Daffodils! daffodils! say do you hear?—Summer is coming! and spring-time is here."

THE FIRST BLUEBIRD

Just rain and snow! and rain again!

And dribble! drip! and blow!Then snow! and thaw! and slush! and then

Some more rain and snow!

This morning I was 'most afeared

To wake up—when, I jing!I seen the sun shine out and heerd

The first bluebird of spring!

Mother she'd raised the winder some;And in acrost the orchard come,

Soft as an angel's wing,A breezy, treesy, beesy hum,

Too' sweet fer anything!

The winter's shroud was rent apart—

The sun burst forth in glee—And when that bluebird sung, my heart

Hopped out o' bed with me.

—Rilcv.