Outlines for Scout Workers, XVII

Outlines for Scout Workers

By D. W. Parratt, B. S.

XVII— The Slate-Colored Junco "I say to you, if you would reap the purest pleasure of youth, manhood, and old age, go to the birds and through them be brought within the ennobling influences of Nature."— Frank M. Chapman.

1. By what other names are slate-colored juncos known? 2. Where do these birds spend their summer? Their winter? 3. Are they good mixers with other winter birds? Why do you think so? 4. Describe these juncos and distinguish between the males and temales. 5. They show the "white feather." When? How? Why? 6. Where and upon what do they feed? 7. Tell of the junco's song. 8. Where and of what are the nests made? 9. Tell of the number and color of eggs.

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10. Should these heautiful birds be encouraged to visit us? Give at

Least two reasons for your answer.

Handy Material Juncos

Along the narrow, sandy height I watch them swiftly come and go, Or round the leafless wood, Like flurries of wind-driven snow, Revolving in perpetual flight, A changing multitude. Nearer and nearer still they sway, And, scattering in a circle sweep, Rush down without a sound; And now I see them peer and peep Across yon level bleak and gray, Searching the frozen grounds,

Until a little wind upheaves, And makes a sudden rustling there, And then they drop their play, Flash up into the sunless air. And, like a flight of silver leaves, Swirl round and sweep away. — Archibald Lampman.

The bird under consideration is frequently referred to as simply the snowbird or the junco. Often he is called the black snowbird and sometimes the white bill. He is one of several species of juncos frequenting our valley and is among the most welcome and best known of all our winter visitors. According to Thompson, this particular junco is perhaps the most talkedof snowbird in the whole United States. East of the Rocky Mountains he habitually summers, breeds, and moults in the timbered regions of Canada, and winters southward even to the Gulf of Mexico. However, in our mountain climates, his migrations do not cover such a wide range. Here his summers are spent in higher altitudes or else in localities not very far to the north, while his winters are passed in our own and in like valleys extending no great distance to the south. Observers have noted him, for instance, during mid-summer months near the head-waters of our mountain canyons, particularly of City Creek, Mill Creek, and the two Cottonwoods. Last July and August the writer saw this sprightly fellow in great numbers in and near Yellowstone National Park. Early winter storms drive the juncos from summer retreats into warmer valleys where food is more accessible and plentiful. They arrive in our midst often as early as October but are seen in greater numbers when winter is well under way. They

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are very sociable and at this season ordinarily flock in groups of from about ten to thirty in number. Their friendly relations with other winter birds are often topics of interesting comment. Seldom if ever do they show any disposition toward quarreling \sith these associates. They fly, eat, and mingle with querulous chickadees and pugnacious English sparrows with apparent contentment, and, in fact, seem to enjoy these noisy companions. By unobserving people, our trim, peaceful winter visitor is frequently mistaken for the aggressive, quarrelsome sparrow. However, the only point relating to personal appearance in which they are strikingly alike is that of size. Ordinarily, both measure from five and one-half to six and one-half inches in length and are about the same as each other in height. The dominant color of the junco, as the name implies, is slatygray. This covers the head, neck, breast, and upper parts of both male and female, although with the male the color is somewhat darker, especially on the head and neck where it may deepen into almost black. In addition to being of a lighter lone, the slate color of the female inclines to delicate brown, chiefly on her comely back and graceful wings. Almost pure white covers the under parts of both male and female. Their outer tail feathers are also white and in contrast with the others of slatish-gray, prove decidedly conspicuous while the birds are in flight. And doubly true is this from the fact that while the birds are thus flying, these white feathers are kept in a constant, in-and-out motion as if intended for nothing but to attract attention from disinterested observers. It is recorded that juncos do a large part of their migrating during the dark hours of night. If this be true, then one can readily see what an advantage it is to the birds to have these "white banners" marking the way of the leaders as the birds fly through the darkness. Without such flitting, showy signals the birds flying behind would, of course, be in grave danger of getting lost from the flock. lively, "little gray-robed monks and nuns" are at These first somewhat timid and reserved. Early winter sees them in open fields, feeding upon waste grain, weed seeds, and hidden insects, but later, when hunger presses harder, they become more daring and even venture into our yards in quest of crumbs and the like thrown out upon the snow-covered ground. While searching for these, their little white bills keep busy picking at things almost too small for us to see and at the same time the apparently happy birds continue whispering faint, low chatters and chants quite becoming their trim appearance and modest decorum. During early spring, when mating season is beginning and

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before the juncos have left for summer homes, the male birds are at times heard bursting into sweet melody suited to the most fastidious female. His song opens with a crispy call note, followed by a simple little trill, and ends with a delicate, faintly whispered, but sweetly broken, warble. Thus with pleasing song, our welcomed visitors take leave for the more serious business of housekeeping and rearing young. As already suggested, some go up our bracing canyons, but most take their "wedding flights" to the cooler, secluded regions of the north. Their nests, usually made of grass and lined with hair, feathers, and soft vegetable fibers, are hidden under fallen trees, projecting roots, bunches of grass, and the like. As a rule from three to five pretty, greenish-white eggs are happily given to the nest. These are interestingly dotted with reddish spots around the larger ends. "While feeding upon the ground," writes B. H. Standish, "'these snowbirds frequently scratch to uncover seeds, and their method is novel, indeed. The bird does not stand on one foot, like a domestic fowl, and scratch with the other, and then change feet. It hops forward with both feet side by side, then hopping back, it drags its long claws through the soil, all at the same time. This stirs the surface soil, but does not go deep enough to uncover worms and well-planted seeds. So snowbirds are no troublesome scratchers, and gardeners hold no grudge against them." In speaking of these useful birds, Prof. J. H. Paul aptly remarks that besides eating weed seeds all winter, "the juncos consume vast quantities of them in March before leaving for their northern (or mountain) homes. Their visit is an unmixed benefit to agricultural land; and they do no real harm, since the little grain eaten by them consists mainly of waste kernels."

Winter Birds I watch them from the window, While winds so keenly blow; How merrily they twitter, And revel in the snow. Oh, may I be as cheerful As yonder winter birds, Through ills and petty crosses, With no repining words; So teaching me this lesson, Away, away they go, And leave their tiny footprints In stars upon the snow. —George Cooper.