THE BUILDING OF THE NEST
Know'st thou what wove yon woodbird's nest
Of leaves, and feathers from her breast? —Emerson.
May and June are the nesting months. Some impatient Bluebirds and Robins begin in April, and the lonely Owls and larger Hawks breed even in February and March, while, on the other hand, the Goldfinches and Cedar Waxwings wait until July; and other birds, who raise several broods in a season, like the Robins, Sparrows, Swallows, and Wrens, continue laying through July and straggle into August, but the universal song and nesting belong to May and June.
In early May the singing is wildly spontaneous, the birds are unguarded. in their movements and constantly show themselves; but when they have mated, a sense of responsibility comes over the gay minstrels, and they become more wary. The soberly clad wife cautions secrecy; there is so much to discuss that must be whispered only in the echo. less depths of the branches, for the great question of the season, the location of the nest, is to be settled, and quickly, too.
There are many things that the bird couple have to consider: the home must be within convenient distance of the proper food supply; there must be some protection from sun and rain, even if it is only a few leaves, or a tuft of grass; and then loom up the enemies to be avoided, — birds of prey, squirrels, snakes, and man. Of the four, the birds seem to dread man the least, and are constantly appealing to him, and taking him into their confidence as a protector against the others. Poor little birds! they do not realize that man with all his higher intelligence is really the most relentless of all. The other enemies kill for food only, man kills for food casually, for decorative feathers wantonly, and
11
