File:Birds and nature (1905) (14568849970).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature11905chic (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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ll notice an un-easy movement among the birds. On anearer approach an occasional individual,bolder than the others, will start towardthe intruder, following a straight lineand with great speed; It will finally circleand return to the colony. When stillnearer the nests, several of the birds willflv around and make short dashes at theobiect of their resentment. Standingquietly for a time, the observer will seesome of the birds hovering over a spotin the marsh, this action often markingthe location of the nests. ApDroachingstill closer to the homes of the birds, theentire colony is soon in the air. crvinofand scolding the one who would invadetheir domain, and dashing about his headIn a most threatening manner. The Black Terns show great affectionfor their young and are ready to defendthem even In the face of death. I haveseen several instances where the parentshave lost their lives while defending theiryoung from the attacks of minks, musk-rats and other animals. In the collection of 134
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1 1 The Chicago Academy of Sciences thereis a young grebe which I picked up deadnear the nest of a Black Tern. Thegrebe had crawled on the floating debristo rest. The Tern had killed it by thrust-ing its bill through its eye. It is often quite difficult to find thenests, even after a colony has been lo-cated. The eggs are almost the color ofthe wet and muddy reeds on which theyare laid. It has been said that the birdswill also roll the eggs in the mud in orderto make them less observable. Apparently the Black Terns do notfeed upon fish at any time. Their foodsconsist of aquatic insects and largely ofdragon flies which they catch w^hile onthe w^ing. Mr. Thompson says: The bird may frequently be seen dashingabout in a zig-zag manner so swiftly theeye can offer no explanation of its motiveuntil, on the resumption of its ordinaryflight, a large dragon fly is seen hangingfrom its bill and sufficiently accounts forthe erratic movements of the bird. Afterhaving captured its prey in this way,

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