THE
RED WING BLACK BIRD.
The Bird of Society.
| THE much abused and
persecuted Red Wing Black Bird is found throughout North
America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific; and it breeds
more or less abundantly wherever found. In New England it
is generally migratory, though instances are on record
where a few have been known to remain throughout the
winter in Massachusetts. Passing, in January, through the
lower counties of Virginia, one frequently witnesses the
aerial evolutions of great numbers of these birds.
Sometimes they appear as if driven about like an enormous
black cloud carried before the wind, varying every moment
in shape. Sometimes they rise suddenly from the fields
with a noise like thunder, while the glittering of
innumerable wings of the brightest vermillion, amid the
black cloud, occasion a very striking effect. At times
the whole congregated multitude will suddenly alight in
some detached grove and commence one general concert,
that can plainly be distinguished at the distance of more
than two miles. With the Redwings the whole winter season
seems one continued carnival. They find abundant food in
the old fields of rice, buckwheat and grain, and much of
their time is spent in aerial movements, or in grand
vocal performances. The Redwings, for their nest, always select either the borders of streams or low marshy situations, amongst thick bunches of reeds. |
One nest was found built on a
slender sapling at the distance of fourteen feet from the
ground. The nest was pensile, like that of the Baltimore
Oriole. They have from one to three or more broods in a season, according to locality. In the grain growing states they gather in immense swarms and commit havoc, and although they are shot in great numbers, and though their ranks are thinned by the attacks of hawks, it seems to have but little effect upon the survivors. On the other hand, these Black Birds more than compensate the farmer for their mischief by the benefit they confer in the destruction of grub worms, caterpillars, and various kinds of larvae, the secret and deadly enemies of vegetation. It has been estimated the number of insects destroyed by these birds in a single season, in the United States, to be twelve thousand millions. The eggs average about an inch in length. They are oval in shape, have a light bluish ground, and are marbled, lined and blotched with markings of light and dark purple and black. |
BLACKBIRD.
'Tis a woodland enchanted!
By no sadder spirit Than blackbirds and thrushes,
That whistle to cheer it All day in the bushes,
This woodland is haunted And in a small clearing,
Beyond sight or hearing Of human annoyance,
The little fount gushes. — LOWELL.