File:How to attract the birds - and other talks about bird neighbors (1903) (14748738731).jpg

Identifier: howtoattractbird00bla (find matches)
Title: How to attract the birds : and other talks about bird neighbors
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Blanchan, Neltje, 1865-1918
Subjects: Birds Bird attracting
Publisher: New York : Doubleday Page
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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soperfectly. Certain rocks match not only her plum-age but her eggs too, which is why she often choosesa depression in such a rock to cradle them when adecayed stump or suitable site on the bare groundamong dry leaves cannot be found. Indeed, themottled eggs of both the nighthawk and the whip-poorwill are as difficult to detect as any laid, althoughneither bird takes the trouble to build a nest. Certain beach birds which lay their eggs amongthe sand and pebbles above high-water mark allowthe sun to do most of the incubating while they plythe waters for lood with an easy mind, feeling quitesure that the sharpest-eyed enemy cannot detect theirtreasures scattered among the shingle. Gulls andterns, which have favourite islands off our coast,return to them generation after generation to reartheir families. Colonies of terns choose a nestingsite on the mottled beach among rounded pebblesof the same size, shape and colour as their eggs, onwhich one may innocently tread, so perfectly are 102
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Natures First Law they concealed while yet completely exposed.Young terns, when running about the beach forfood, stop short the instant danger threatens andkeep still instinctively — their colouring usuallyaffords all the protection necessary. Every sportsman knows how wary the wood-cock is, yet so confidently does the hen rely on themimicry of plumage amid the dry leaves and fallenlogs around her, that one can place a camerasquarely in front of her ground nest and photographher on it without causing her concern enough towink an eyelid. There was no need for birds soprotected to build in trees. Seated among last yearsleaves, the brown ruffed grouse feels sure, as wellshe may, that you can scarcely distinguish her fromthem. When danger threatens her chicks, theyoungest downy ball knows enough to stand or squatmotionless, while the mother, by feigning lamenessor a broken wing, tries to decoy you away. Stand-ing even in the midst of a surprised covey of younggrouse, who is clever enoug

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