. Nestlings of forest and marsh, by Irene Grosvenor Wheelock; . mbTo use for a drum or to burrow in ? Long. THE red-headed woodpecker is one ofthose birds who prefer old home-steads year after year, and the bird whosehistory I am going to tell nested for fiveseasons in the same dead tree just southof my nursery window. During that timehe excavated two dwellings in it, and thediscarded one he used as a shelter for him-self on cold rainy days when Madam wason the nest. A light summer shower, how-ever, was his delight, and the only bath Iever saw him take. Although robins andwood-thrushes daily b
. Nestlings of forest and marsh, by Irene Grosvenor Wheelock; . mbTo use for a drum or to burrow in ? Long. THE red-headed woodpecker is one ofthose birds who prefer old home-steads year after year, and the bird whosehistory I am going to tell nested for fiveseasons in the same dead tree just southof my nursery window. During that timehe excavated two dwellings in it, and thediscarded one he used as a shelter for him-self on cold rainy days when Madam wason the nest. A light summer shower, how-ever, was his delight, and the only bath Iever saw him take. Although robins andwood-thrushes daily bathed in a basin setout for them. Red-head never would goto the ground for THE HOUSE THAT FELL He at first came to the tree alone, lookedit over and tapped it vigorously, then flewaway. In an hour he was there again, thistime with hismate. She evi-dently approvedhis choice oflocation, for shesat contentedlyabove him whilehe struck outthe circle for thedoorway. Afterthat both workedat the excava-tions alternatelyfor intervals ofabout twenty minutes each. Young lt-:uiiig in-st Most of thiswas done early in the morning before thefolks in the house were supposed to beastir; for although neither a shy nor timidbird, the red-head resents any notice ofhis domestic affairs. Whenever any oneappeared on the veranda he would stop171 NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH work, mount the top of the stump, andscold, emphasizing every squawk with acomical jerk of his entire body. It wasas though he pumped out the tone. Wealways knew when puss was abroad on thelawn by the continuous succession of harshsquawks that came from the woodpeckerstree or a roof near by. The old trunk wasbarkless and smooth, with only a forkedbranch at the top some twenty feet fromthe ground, so I am sure he had no reasonto fear that any wicked feline could reachthat precious nest. In this home-guardinghe was invariably assisted by an officiousEnglish sparrow, who perched on one forkof the branch and scolde
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1902
