CIRCULATING NATURE COLLECTIONS OF BIRDS IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

This Bird Study Manual is intended especially for the use of teachers and pupils in the New York City Schools. It is written primarily to describe the birds contained in the circulating nature study collections which the American Museum of Natural History loans to public schools. However it may be used as a general guide to bird study as well. The various study outlines tell the story of different projects that may be developed in connection with birds. Typical birds are illustrated. As much as is possible in the life history of each bird is given. The bird poems may be used in connection with the study of English. The study of birds may very well be correlated with the studies of many other subjects such as Civics, Geography and other topics.

The purpose of the loan collections of birds and other animals in the American Museum of Natural History is to place in the hands of teachers good material for classroom instruction, At the same time authoritative data is given with each collection. These loan collections are available for any teacher in any school in Greater New York.

The method of obtaining these collections has been made the simplest possible as far as the teachers are concerned. At least once a year (in September), and sometimes twice a year, a return postal card is mailed to every school principal in the City system, All that the principal has to do to obtain the collections is to indicate by numerals the sequence in which he wants the collections delivered, signing his name and school number. The Museum messengers will then deliver the collections, and call for them, without any more effort on the part of the schools. The entire cost of this service is borne by the Museum.

Teachers are urged, whenever possible, to bring their classes to the American Museum of Natural History, at 77th Street and Central Park West, to take advantage of the opportunities for further study that are offered. In the many halls of birds and animals, the home life and the general habitat of the creatures are given in detail. There is a free guide service for teachers and pupils. Also there are classes for school children held in the new School Service Building. In fact, the wealth of natural history study material is always there, available in many ways for the use of all who desire to further their knowledge of the animals of the out-of-doors.

Applications for these collections and for further information should be addressed to The American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and Central Park West, New York City. George H. Sherwood, Curator-in-Chief Department of Public Education

The American Museum of Natural History has five collections of birds to lend to Public Schools. These five are:

The Bluebird Set

Bluebird—Phoebe—Barn Swallow—House Wren—Chimney Swift.

The Owl Set

Chickadee—Nuthatch—Song Sparrow—Screech Owl—Kinglet.

The Robin Set

Robin—Red-winged Blackbird—Baltimore Oriole—Chipping Sparrow—Meadowlark.

The Blue Jay Set

Blue Jay—Downy Woodpeckcr—Starling—Junco—English Sparrow—Crossbill.

The Scarlet Tanager Set

Scarlet Tanager—Red-eyed Vireo—Goldfinch—Hummingbird—Pigeon.

Other Types of Loan Collections That May be Secured Are:

Insects—Sponges and Corals—Crustaceans—Minerals and Rocks—Native Woods—Starfishes and Worms—Mollusks.

SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS

It is sometimes helpful to study birds by the “Question and Answer” method. The following questions are written to suggest others of a similar nature.

What is a Bird? A bird is an animal that has feathers. No other animal has feathers.

What are Feathers Used For? Feathers help to keep the bird warm. With the aid of feathers the bird flies.

What Other Creature is Able to Fly Without the Aid of Feathers? The bat can fly upon wings of thin skin.

What are the Names of Some Birds that are Noted for Their Ability to Swim, Fly, Creep, and Walk? The Bald Eagle and the Condor are both birds that are very strong fliers. Can you name any others? The ducks are at home in the water. Can you name any other birds that are able to swim with ease? The little Brown Creeper and many other birds are very happy in their ability to creep up and to climb trees. The Chicken and the Partridge are both excellent walkers. Name some other birds that walk.

What Birds Help the Trees to Live by Killing Harmful Insects? The Woodpeckers help the trees in this way. Name some other birds that find food upon the trunks of trees.

What May we Attempt to do to Protect Birds? We may help birds to live by giving them drinking places and bird baths in the Summer, and food tables in the Winter. We can help by not going near birds’ nests and by not harming birds in any manner.

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS AND PUPILS
ADDITIONAL STUDY TOPICS

Birds are to be found in almost “every corner of the earth.” Their study has a world wide interest and appeal. The following list is intended to serve as an aid in bringing to mind subjects that may be developed out-of-doors, or studied in the class room.

Vision of Birds: The keen power of sight of Hawks and Eagles; the Owl’s eye at night.

Variation in Structure of Bill: Adaptations of the sharp pointed, curved beak of the flesh-eating Hawks; the small, pointed bill of the insect-eating Warbler.

Variation in Structure of Feet: The strong grasping talons of flesh-eaters; the powerful “walking feet” of the Chicken; the perching feet of the Chickadee,

Habits of Cleanliness in Birds: Cleaning nests, bathing in water and dust.

The Flight of Birds: Powerful, sustained flight of the Condor; darting flight of flycatchers; suspension in air, or hovering flight of the Hummingbird and Sparrow Hawk.

Migration of Birds: Travels from one continent to another, often over wide expanse of water; journey of the Golden Plover.

Training of Young Birds by Their Parents: Young Barn Swallows forced into the air; Robins offering food to young and thus enticing them to leave the nest.

The Songs of Birds: The Parrots, Thrushes, Sparrows. Songs of male birds during breeding season, imitation and mimicry—Catbird; warning cries, call notes.

Care and Feeding of Young: Different methods employed by parents. The Pelican, the Robin, the Swallows, the Flicker.

Types of Nests: Construction, materials used, building location; nest of Bank Swallow, hanging nest of Baltimore Oriole, Crow’s nest.

Weapons of Fighting: Spurs, wings, bills, talons.

Protective Coloration: Similarity of plumage, color and markings to habitat.—the Wood Thrush, the Partridge.

Bird Houses: Different types, how made, how placed, how used.

Bird Conservation: Methods of preservation in various states. Laws for protection.

Relation of Birds to Agriculture: Insect eaters, seed eaters, rodent destroyers.

The Bird’s Feather: Feathers for study will be given to teachers upon request.

(Note). These are but a few of the subjects that might very well be considered.

OUTLINE FOR BIRD STUDY
(Suggestions to Teachers and Pupils)

In observing birds out-of-doors or in the class room, with an idea of studying or identifying them, there are certain definite things to know and to remember. The following outline makes some suggestions of what to look for when a bird is seen for the first time, or when you are studying a mounted specimen or colored picture.

Movements: See whether the flyer hops or walks when it is on the ground. Does it hang upside down, move slowly or quickly, swim or creep? Remember that the same bird may have a different appearance at various times.

Disposition: Did you ever think of a bird in connection with its having a disposition? Notice whether it is unsuspicious, wary, social, solitary, etc.

Flight: Does the bird that flies over your head travel rapidly or slowly? Does it flap along or does it sail and soar? Maybe it undulates (flies up and then down in half-moon curves) as the Goldfinch does.

Song: There are many times when you may hear a bird but not see it. Thus you should listen for songs very carefully. Notice whether the song is continuous, short, loud, low, pleasing, unattractive, and whether it comes from the ground, from a higher perch, or from the air.

Call Notes: Nearly all birds have a Call Note that is different from the regular song. These notes may be of various sorts such as scolding, warning, alarm, signalling, as well as a number of others.

Size: In the field, you cannot run up to a wild bird and measure it with a ruler, but what you can do is to compare it in size with some other bird that you do know. Compare the unknown bird with an English Sparrow which is about 6 inches long, a Robin about 10 and a Crow 19 inches long. Remember, 6, 10 and 19.

Form: Note the shape of the bill, length of the tail, shape of wings.

Markings and Color: See just where the markings are. Remember that if a bird were seen without feathers, it would look quite a bit like any other animal. The next time you have a chicken after the feathers have been removed, look at it closely. The wings look like arms, and as a matter of fact, they have three “fingers,” which may be easily seen. The bird has a crown on its head; he has “cheeks,” a breast, a throat, a belly, and a rump as well as other external or outside parts. Do not say that you saw a bird that was “black and white and brown all over.” No one could tell you what sort of a bird that was. See—just what you are looking at. As with the Markings, you should know something of the parts of a bird before you are able to tell just where the colors occur. How many colors are there on the under side of the Robin?

Appearance: The bird may be alert, wide awake or pensive as though it had just lost a friend. Its tail may be drooped, its crest erected or its feathers ruffled.

Haunts: Where did you see the bird? Was it near the seashore, beside the river, in the woods, the fields, a place where the land was low and swampy or high and rocky, or was it down near the side of the lake?

Season: The time of year that the bird is seen is a very important thing to notice and to take into consideration. Look for the times when birds first arrive and when they leave. Did you see them in the winter, spring, summer, or fall? Are they permanent residents?

Food: When you walked through the pasture or through the park and saw a bird eating something, did you stop and try to discover what that food was? Was the bird eating berries, insects, seeds? How was this food secured?

Mating: Every bird has certain courtship habits. Note these antics.

Nesting: Observe the choice of nesting site, the materials used in the nests, such as mud, grass, leaves, and so on. Notice the construction, the number and the color of the eggs; and the incubation period, or the length of time the eggs take to hatch; and above all things, do not in any way disturb any bird’s nest.

The Young: Watch and learn what food the young ones are given by the parents; how they are cared for; the time they remain in the nest; their cries, actions, first flights, and so on.

How to Find Birds:

(a)—When—The best times of day are early morning and late afternoon. Why is this true?

(b)—Where—A watered meadow with trees here and there attract birds. Learn this from observation.

(c)—How—Use common sense as to dress and general actions. Sit down and let the birds come to you.

Based on Dr. Frank M. Chapman’s “A Bird’s Biography,” p. 73—Bird Life, published by D. Appleton & Co., New York.

THE BLUEBIRD

In this locality some of the Bluebirds are with us all the year through. However, they are not so often seen in winter as in warmer summer months. The Starlings and the English Sparrows have driven them from many former nesting sites.

Food: The Bluebird eats many insects, including beetles, grasshoppers and different kinds of caterpillars. He also often feeds upon such fruits as cedar berries, wild cherries and those of other wild plants.

Bill: The bill of this bird is much like that of the Robin and the Thrushes. These birds are very closely related.

Feet: Being a typical perching bird, the Bluebird has very well developed feet. The hind toe is larger than any of the front ones and is of great value in grasping a twig or larger branch.

Nest: When the Bluebird has found his mate, the pair begin their search for a home. It may be in a hollow tree, fence post, or in a box built by some friendly hand. Within the nesting hole a bed of dried grass is made. Five or six pale blue eggs are laid and then the new family is well on its way.

Song: The song of the Bluebird, while not very lengthy, is very soft and sweet. It has a musical tone and is one of the most beautiful of the early Spring bird voices. The notes are somewhat unsteady and have a tender, plaintive quality.

John Burroughs has said of the Bluebird:—

“And yonder Bluebird, with the earth tinge on his breast and the sky tinge on his back, did he come down out of heaven on that bright March morning when he told us so softly and plaintively that, if we pleased, Spring had come?”

William Cullen Bryant has written:—

And Lowell:—

THE PHOEBE

Toward the end of March, the peaceful, confiding Phoebe ventures northward. Sometimes ice and snow greet the little bird, but on he goes to take the weather as it comes. The return journey to the far south does not begin until the first frosty nights of September tell the story of approaching winter.

Food: At the time of the Phoebe’s arrival, some of the first flying insects are trying their wings. As the Phoebe is a flycatcher, he may be seen, darting and wheeling about, in pursuit of his food. The snap of his beak may be heard as some small creature is overtaken and swallowed. Beetles, weevils, flies, grasshoppers and other insects help to feed this bird.

Bill: The bill of the Phoebe is admirably adapted to its feeding habits. This Quill is quite broad and strong. Upon each side are small “bristles” which help the bird to feed while flying. How do these “bristles” help?

Wings and Tail: The Phoebe is an expert in the air. His wings and tail are comparatively long and powerful. Compare them with those of the Wren. Which one of the two is the best flier? Why?

Song: While resting and while watching for insects, the Phoebe often perches upon the end of a branch or fence post and sings—“pewit-phoebe-phoebe-phoebe.” At the same time, he moves his tail with a sideway sweep, in a jerky little way. He is not much of a singer, but when the sound, “phoebe-phoebe” comes to us in March or early April, we know that Spring will soon be here.

Nest: The nest of the Phoebe is well built of mud, moss and other materials. It is sometimes lined with wool and feathers. The structure is placed on some flat surface, such as upon a rafter beneath a bridge or in a barn. Occasionally the nest is built under some sheltering bank or cliff. The eggs are usually white.

Of the Phoebe, Lowell has written:

THE BARN SWALLOW

The Barn Swallows arrive in the North toward the end of April and leave early in September. They are sociable birds and travel in huge flocks.

Food: Insects, caught upon the wing, form the diet of those Swallows. They dart here and there, over field and water, catching their prey in swift, graceful flight.

Feet: Often, in the season of migration, thousands of Swallows perch upon telephone wires, sometimes in such large numbers that the wires are broken. Their small feet are well suited for this, but not for walking upon the ground.

Tail: The tail of the Barn Swallow is deeply forked. When perched, these long protruding outer tail feathers serve to distinguish the Barn Swallow from all other native Swallows.

Song: The gentle twitter of the Barn Swallow is a familiar sound about many a farm where an old barn or other outbuilding may provide a nesting site. It is a musical sound that changes to a “kit-tic—kit-tic” when the bird becomes excited.

Nest: The cup-shaped nest of the Barn Swallow is made of mud and is lined with grass and feathers. It is stuck to the side of a rafter or beam or against the inside of the weather-boarding of an old barn where a broken window pane or other hole admits the bird from the out-of-doors. The eggs are white, speckled with brown and lavender.

THE HOUSE WREN

Some day, late in April, the House Wren will appear to add to the growing bird population. Not until the middle of August or the end of September will he depart. He is the most common of our Wrens.

Food: Ninety-eight percent of the food of this small bird is made up of insects.

Actions: These little birds are very restless. They seem never to be still. From dawn to dark they are bobbing, hopping, and bowing about with tireless energy. The stiff tail, constantly jerked, is usually in an upright perky position, and is a true mark of the Wren’s personality.

Song: The House Wren is more noted for the quantity of his song than for the quality. Although parts of his singing are soft and musical, there are other times when scolding, grating notes mar the performance. Constantly singing, the Wren goes about his work. Even when flying or perching with a worm in his beak, he will sing away as though the thoughts of mere food were far indeed from his mind. The true song is a spontaneous and rollicking outburst, and is sung with real abandon that fairly makes the small feathered body tremble with the force of its effort.

Nest: The nest of the House Wren is made within some cavity, either natural or man-made. If no hollow tree is about, an eave spout will do, provided that an English Sparrow has not found it first. Wrens have even been known to build their nests in old shoes! The material used consists of grass and short twigs, feathers and like material. The eggs, sometimes as many as eight in number, are thickly speckled with pinkish brown.

Flight: The flight of the Wren is very erratic. It darts here and there with much speed. Although not a very strong flier, the bird travels in many places that larger birds could never manage.

THE CHIMNEY SWIFT

The Chimney Swift, which is in no way related to the Swallows, is seen in the North toward the end of April or early in May. From the last weeks of August until late in September, southward bound flocks may be seen, and then the bird has left us until Spring comes again.

Food: The Swifts feed entirely while flying. They eat small flying insects of many kinds, catching them chiefly in the early morning and late afternoon.

Feet: Seldom does the Swift alight upon any flat-topped object. Its characteristic perching place is upon some rough-surfaced tree or chimney where the small, weak feet cling to the wall and hold the bird in an upright position.

Tail: The tail of the Chimney Swift is used as a prop to aid the bird in holding fast to vertical surfaces. The feathers of this fan-shaped prop are spine-tipped.

Wings and Body: The body of the Swift is “cigar shaped.” The wings are slender though powerful and have long outer feathers that help him to fly for hours at a time.

Song: The Chimney Swift has no true song. His singing efforts result in a “chip-chip-chip” repeated over and over again, with a twitter-like rhythm, sometimes sounding “chippy-chippy-chippy-chip.”

Nest: The nest of this bird is an unusual structure made of twigs that are glued together with its glutinous saliva. It forms a shallow, saucer-shaped platform in which the small white eggs are laid. Before man-made chimneys offered nesting sites, the Swifts built in hollow trees.

THE CHICKADEE

The friendly, sometimes inquisitive Chickadees, are with us all through the year. Ever active, they fly here and there searching for food, and giving their cheerful calls.

Bill: The tweezer-like bill of this little bird is very well adapted to the catching and eating of small insects and their eggs.

Habits: The Chickadees are never strangers to one who walks within sight or hearing of them. They fly very near and have even been known to perch upon the hand of different bird watchers who have sufficiently gained their confidence. The gray and black colors of these small balls of feathers match the tree trunks and branches upon which the Chickadees climb and hang in search of food.

Song: The Chickadee tells his own name when he sings. Ella G. Ives has said:

“Chickadee-dee-dee!” is the music that comes from this small gymnast of the branches. Sometimes a “Phoebe” call note is also given. It is quite simple to imitate this note by whistling. If you do it correctly the Chickadee may answer.

Nest: An old, hollow stump or fence post is often chosen by the Chickadee for a home. The nest within is built of moss, plant fibers, grasses, and feathers. From five to nine eggs are laid. They are of a white color spotted with a ruddy brown.

Ralph Waldo Emerson admired the Chickadee who braved the winter’s cold, and seemed so happy in the very coldest of weather. He wrote this about the little bird:

THE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH

The Nuthatch is one of the tree trunk birds that, in the wintertime, is a close friend of the Chickadees and the Downy Woodpeckers. He is with us all the year around. Some people have called him the “Upside down bird” due to the fact that he is able to run up and down the trunks of trees in almost every conceivable position.

Food: The food of the Nuthatch consists of the small insects that live under and upon the bark of trees. The small, sharp pointed beak is well adapted to pry off sections of loose bark that may house some eggs, larvae or pupae of insects that are hidden for the cold months.

Habits: Edith M. Thomas has written a little poem about the Nuthatch. It is a good description of the acrobatic powers of these little gray birds of the woods.

Nest: The nest of the Nuthatch is located in a hole in a tree or stump. It is lined with feathers, leaves and other similar materials. The white eggs are thickly speckled with a rufous and lavender color. From five to eight eggs are laid.

Song: Some one has described the song of this bird as being like the laugh of a very old man. As the Nuthatch pauses from his work to inspect you, he may suddenly decide that you are no longer worthy of his attention. With a harsh little “yank-yank,” he will then continue his insect hunting and leave you to marvel at his actions.

THE SONG SPARROW

The Song Sparrow is a member of a very large family. His near relations are found in many regions of the earth. In winter, fall and spring, he is with us to represent his kind, and a fine representative he is, with his good spirits and ever-ready song.

Field Marks: The red-brown line behind the Song Sparrow’s eye, combined with the tiny splash of black and brown which streaks his breast are two marks by which the bird may be identified. The larger blotch of color upon the breast is in the center of the “splash.”

Song: This Sparrow is a musician of fine ability. The call note is but a metallic “chip.” The homing song is worthy of the attention of any one who likes to hear good music in the out-of-doors. There is no one song but rather a combination of songs which are varied from time to time. The beginning of the song is usually of three sustained introductory notes. The following notes rise in rapid succession and are of a pure musical quality. The strain is a cheerful, simple melody.

Nest: The nest of the Song Sparrow is built either upon the ground or in bushes. It is made of coarse grasses, rootlets, dead leaves, strips of bark and similar materials. The eggs, four or five in number, are of a bluish white with brownish markings which are often so numerous that they conceal the underlying color.

Food: The diet of the Song Sparrow consists largely of the seeds of harmful weeds. It also feeds upon insects such as ants, beetles, and weevils. The beak of this Sparrow is comparatively large and strong. It is well adapted to open large seed pods in order to reach and eat the kernel within.

Henry Van Dyke has written a little poem about the Song Sparrow. The first stanza of the poem, from “Builders and Other Poems” is given here:

SCREECH OWL

This little permanent resident is quite common in the outlying sections of the cities. He seems to care for the society of man. Very often, he is to be found near human dwellings rather than far out in the woods. Just why we should call this bird the “Screech Owl” is somewhat of a mystery. The Owl has a tremulous, quavering voice that in no way suggests a “screech.” Perhaps it is that the name has come to us from Europe. At any event, it is not appropriate to our small Owl.

Food: Sometimes in walks out-of-doors we may come upon small, gray colored pellets made of hair and tiny bones. Very often, these have been ejected by the Screech Owl, who is able to digest the flesh of his prey but not the skeleton and the outer covering. This beneficial night flier feeds upon mice and other creatures. His sharp, hooked beak is adapted to tearing food and his rather long and pointed little talons are of great use in grasping it.

Color: There are two color phases of the Screech Owl. One is a mixture of mottled reddish brown, and the other a brownish gray shade tinged with black. These two phases have nothing to do either with sex, age, or season.

“Ears:” The two small tufts, one on either side of the head, are not ears at all. They are merely feathers. They may well serve to distinguish this bird from the Acadian or Saw-whet Owl which is not at all common.

Nest: The nest of the Screech Owl is often placed in a hole in a hollow tree. The pure white eggs, some five or six in number, are laid in April.

THE KINGLETS

There are two varieties of Kinglets in this section of the country, the Golden-crowned and the Ruby-crowned. Both members of the family are beautiful little birds that visit us in autumn and depart in the spring. They are not with us during the warmer months. In the coldest time of the year these little, restless wanderers among the trees may be seen and heard. Except for the Humming-bird and the Winter Wren, the Kinglets are the smallest birds that we have.

The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

The male bird may be identified by the partly concealed tiny crest of red which the bird often raises.

The Golden-Crowned Kinglet

A crest of gold marks this cousin of the Ruby-crowned. Often no color is visible upon the head except the uniform olive or greenish tinge. However, when the bird is excited, the crest is raised and it is then that the color of the crown may be very well seen.

Habits: The Kinglets are friendly birds that often come very near. They seem to be much more tame than the warblers.

Food: A constant search for tiny insects occupies the time of the Kinglets.

Song: The Ruby-crown is the superior singer of the two. His song consists of a loud, clear warble, interrupted here and there with a wren-like chatter. The Golden-crown’s song may be expressed as “tzze, tzze, tzze, tzze, ti, ti, tir, t-t-t-.” The call note is an extremely high-pitched “ti-ti.”

Nest: The roundish nests of the Kinglets are made of moss, thin strips of inner bark, feathers and other like materials. These nests are made in evergreen trees and are sometimes placed as high as sixty feet above the ground.