I should advise any one by all means to make a complete local list of all the birds that are found in their neighborhood, but of far greater value than the simple recording of the different species seen on each walk, will be the making a special study of one or more birds, even though they be common ones. While, of course, noting any peculiarities of any bird that you may see, select some particular one or ones and find out all you can about it. The following most necessary points are cited to aid the student in making observations: Date of arrival and whether in large flocks, pairs, or singly; where found most abundantly; upon what do they feed at the different seasons; what are their songs and calls at different seasons; when and where do they make their nests; of what are they made and by which bird or both; how long does it take, and when is the first and last egg laid; how long does it take them to hatch, and do both birds or only one incubate them; upon what are the young fed at different ages; how long do they remain in the nest, and do they return after once leaving; how long before they are able to feed themselves, and do they remain with their parents until they migrate. These and other notes that will suggest themselves will furnish interesting and valuable instruction during your leisure time.
TOPOGRAPHY OF A BIRD
The numbers and names used in this book are those adopted by the American Ornithologists’ Union, and are known both in this country and abroad. The lengths given are averages; our small birds often vary considerably and may be found either slightly larger or smaller than those quoted.
On some of the pages a number of sub-species are mentioned. Sub-species often cause confusion, because they are usually very similar to the original; they can best be identified by the locality in which they are found.
Of course the writing of birds’ songs is an impossibility, but wherever I have thought it might prove of assistance, I have given a crude imitation of what it sounds like to me. The nests and eggs are described, as they often lead to the identity of a bird. We would suggest that you neatly, and with ink, make a cross against the name of each bird that you see in your locality, and also that you write at the top of the page the date of the arrival and departure of each bird as you note it; these dates vary so much in different localities that we have not attempted to give them.
As many will not wish to soil their books, we would suggest that they have a leather-covered copy for the library and a cloth one for pocket use.
BIRD GUIDE
LAND BIRDS EAST OF THE ROCKIES