. British birds. Birds. 76 BRITISH BIRDS. year for making observations enable me to offer some explana- tion for this " low-nesting" habit. The early nests of these species are often built before the leaf is out, and are almost always three or four feet from the ground in coppice, hedgerow or on a " stake and binder " fence, and it is a matter of experience that very few of the eggs laid in them escape the notice of the Jays (and perhaps other predatory birds or mammals) that abound throughout the woodlands. As a. blackbird's nest in a clump of grass. {Photographed by N. F.
. British birds. Birds. 76 BRITISH BIRDS. year for making observations enable me to offer some explana- tion for this " low-nesting" habit. The early nests of these species are often built before the leaf is out, and are almost always three or four feet from the ground in coppice, hedgerow or on a " stake and binder " fence, and it is a matter of experience that very few of the eggs laid in them escape the notice of the Jays (and perhaps other predatory birds or mammals) that abound throughout the woodlands. As a. blackbird's nest in a clump of grass. {Photographed by N. F. Ticehurst.) general rule the low-built nests are the later ones, built towards the middle of May, they often contain no more than three eggs, and are evidently second or even third attempts at breeding. It is very suggestive, therefore, that the birds are becoming aware that greater concealment is necessary, if they are to nest successfully, and thus this low-building habit is gradu- ally being acquired, and may in time become Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original London, Witherby & Co
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherl, booksubjectbirds
