Outlines for Scout Workers, XVI

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Outlines for Scout Workers

By Delbert W . Parratt, B. S., and Josephine Smith

XVI— The Mountain Chickadee Then piped a tiny voice hard by, Gay and polite, a cheerful cry, Chick-a-dee-dee saucy note !

Out of sound, heart, and merry tliroat, As if it said, Good day, good sir! Fine afternoon, old pars^nger! Happy to meet you in tiles'* places Where January brings few facrs. Emerson. 1. To what bird family decs the ch'ckadce belong? 2. What is the particular name of our chickadee? Why is it so nimed? 3. Tell of its size, color, and markings, and contrast the male and female in these respects. 4. Where is the chickadee found? When is it with us? 5. It is often referred to as an rcrob.it. Why? 6. Upon what does this bird subsist? 7. Describe its "song." 8. Where and of what is the nest usually made? 9. Tell of the size, color, and number cf eggs. 10. Should the chickadee be encouraged to slay with us? Why? How may this be done? Handy Material The Revcrcr.d Mr. Chickadee, D. D. A little clergyman is he, With black and white cravat; He bears a coveted degree, And wears a soft silk hat.

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"With happy heart and merry voice, He braves the cold and heat; And to the loved one of his choice, He whistles soft and sweet. So overflowing in his strain, That he could dub "D. D." Young theolog with meager brain And bump of vanity. His sect is congregational, The wild woods are his church, The wind his "choir invisible," His pulpit is a birch.

The sermon we should not forget: "Happy and cheerful be, Have diligence, be brave, don't fret," Says Chickadee, D. D. Florence A. Van SanU

The little fellow under consideration is one of the best known of all our snow-birds. We are all acquainted with his cheery call suggesting at once the appropriate name of chickadee by which he is familiarly known. He and his near relatives belong to the titmouse bird family which is scattered quite generally throughout southern Canada and the cooler parts of the United States, but our particular chickadee frequents only the mountain regions of the West, and in consequence is called the Mountain Chickadee. He is a very small bird, seldom measuring more than five and one-half inches in length. He has a short, chubby bill and comparatively long tail. His pert head is adorned with a jet black cap streaked with delicate superciliary lines of white. His throat is covered with a broad, full black tie and his cheeks with beautiful contrasty white. The subdued gray mantle covering his back becomes somewhat darker on the sides and is there tinged with touches of light brown. His under parts are clothed in less attractive gravish whites. Unlike most birds, there is but little difference in size and color between the male and female chickadees. During coldest weather he fluffs his feathers and therebv entangles more air with which to keep himeslf warm. This, of course, gives Mr. Chickadee the appearance of being somewhat larger than he really is. But his undersize in weight is certainly more than balanced by his cheery voice and alert movements. His lively presence surely makes wintry days less dreary. No ordinary storm or frost seems to daunt him. "The somber sky, with leaden, hurrying clouds, portends the coming storm; jays crv mournfully; crows fuss. and caw; but here comes chickadee, flitting from twig to twig, as blithe and unconcerned as if it were always summer."

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Although our little friend is commonly called a snowbird, as a matter of fact he abides with us throughout the entire year. Lovers of nature are familiar with his short, tilting flights, and quick, energetic movements. As an acrobat, he readily takes place among the most expert and amusing. He seems to think nothing of flying to a swaying limb, grasping it while upside down, and then nimbly swinging to a normal, upright position. He takes insects on the wing with surprising ease, and those escaping his clutch are almost sure to be caught again before fully realizing the sense of regained freedom. Sometimes the little fellow reaches for a flying insect and misses, but just so often he is likely to spring back, twist downward, catch it in air, and then turn a quick somersault to a branch below. Often he is seen hanging upside down to a limb, busily pecking at some hidden larvae or the like. Indeed, it would be difficult to imagine a pose or contortion that is omitted by this interesting performer. Some of our winter birds, such as the Bohemian Waxwing and Western Evening Grosbeak, obtain their food with but little effort. This, however, is not the case with the chickadee. He must search continually with sharp eyes for what he gets. Small, troublesome insects and larvae are his favorite dainties and these apparently are not very plentiful during winter months. But notwithstanding this he seems to find them in surprising numbers. Perhaps no other bird in our midst during the inclemencies of winter is of greater service to fruit growers than is this pert little fellow. Bird students give conclusive evidence that the presence of a few chickadees in a tree, grove or orchard is sure protection against leaf-eating and fruit-spoiling insects of almost every sort. Mr. C. E. Bailey figured that a single bird, under ordinary spring conditions, destroyed something like 138,- 750 canker worm eggs in twenty-five days. These little "feather balls" are also devouring ants, bugs, and flies by the thousands, and they are likewise fond of small beetles, spiders, and grasshoppers. More than two-thirds of the chickadee's diet is made up of such as these, while the balance consists almost wholly of pine, poison ivy, and weed seeds. At times, however, he turns to soft covered seeds such as those of the cucumber, muskmellon, and sunflower. These he carries, one at a time, to the limb of a nearby tree and there, holding the seed firmly under one foot, pecks through the shuck and extracts the desired kernel. As already suggested, the chickadee derives his suggestive name from the familiar "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" call made while he is flitting from tree to tree. This is uttered in a quick, cheery manner, dispelling the dreariness of wintry surroundings. At times, particularly in mating season, he gives vent to a long,

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pensive, musical "phocbe," regarded by some as his song, but sines it is given by both male and female it can hardly be called such in the ordinary scn:e of the term as used by bird students. A deserted woodpecker's nest or a knot-hole in an old apple tree is frequently selected by the chickadee for its home. At times, its nest is built in the hole of a fence post or even in one of a decayed tree stump. Often he digs the hole into the decayed wood himeslf, but is always careful to scatter the tell-tale bits at some distance from the selected spot. He hesitates but little in occupying a properly constructed bird houee. This fhould have a floor place of four by four inches, a depth of from eight to ten inches, and an entrance one and one-eighth inches in diameter from six to eight inches above the floor. It should be fastened to a tree or pole at a height of from six to fifteen feet. More satisfactory results will follow if old, weathered boards are used in constructing the house and if the workman is not too careful in making the joints and finishing the project. He should bear in mind that birds prefer living in places that give evidence of being made by nature and not by man. For this reason the bird house should not be painted. The snug, secluded nest, lined with bits of fur, wool, feathers, or soft vegetable fiber, is supplied with from five to nine tiny, plain white or delicately spotted eggs. Twelve or thirteen days are required to hatch the eggs and both female and male take turns in incubating them. Chickadees are very friendly and sociable with man and seem to exhibit considerable confidence in him. This pleasing relationship may be encouraged easily by feeding the cheery little fellows once in a while during cold, snowy days "when life is bard at best." At such times, a suet bag hung for their benefit is sure to bring rich returns. They are unquestionably among the most interesting, cheery, and beneficial of all birds to mankind, and as such are certainly worthy of our best efforts to encourage and protect.

The Snow-Bird

In the morning light trills the gay swallow, The thrush in the roses below, The meadow-lark sings in the meadow, And the snow-bird sings in the snow. "Twee wee! Chickadee!" Thft snow-bird sings in the snow.

The blue martin trills in the gable, The wren on the ground below,

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In the elm flutes the golden robin, But the snow-bird sings in the snow. "Twee wee! Chickadee!" The snow-bird sings in the snow.

High wheels the gray wing of the osprey, The wing of the sparrows droop low, In the mist dips the wing of the robin, And the snow-bird's wing in the snow. "Twee wee! Chickadee!" The snow-bird sings in the snow.

I love the high heart of the osprey, The meek heart of the thrush below, The heart of the lark in the meadow, And the snow-bird's heart in the snow; But dearest to me "Chickadee ! Chickadee !

Is that true little heart in the snow.—Selected.

The Snow-Bird's Song The ground was all covered with snow one day, And two little sisters were busy at play, When a snow-bird came flitting close by on a tree, And merrily singing his chick-a-dee-dee, Chick-a-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee, And merrily singing his chick-a-dee-dee.

He had not been singing that tune very long, Ere Emily heard him, so loud was his song; "Oh, sister, look out of the window," said she, "Here's a dear little bird singing chick-a-dee-dee," Chick-a-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee, And merrily singing his chick-a-dee-dee.

"Oh, mother, do get him some stockings and shoes, And a nice little frock, and a hat if you choose; I wish he'd come into the parlor, and see How warm we would make him, poor chick-a-dee-dee." Chick-a-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee, And merrily singing his chick-a-dee-dee.

"There is One, my dear child, though I cannot tell who. Has clothed me already, and warm enough too. Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we?" And away he went singing his chick-a-dee-dee, Chick-a-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee, And merrily singing his chick-a-dee-dee. F. C. Woodward