Bird lore - Project Puffin

Some Experiences in Attracting Birds i6g
even at a considerable distance. Some of the pitch was later melted by the heat
of the sun and ran down the front of the box in drops, which can clearly be seen
in the accompanying photograph. This picture was taken immediately after
the young birds had flown, when the box was taken down temporarily. The
photograph also shows that most of the i)itch was placed at the lower righthand
side of the hole, but there was, in addition, a thin layer which almost
encircled the hole, but which was too nearly transjmrent to be visible in the
picture. There was one
place, however, at the
lower left-hand side of
the hole where the pitch
was absent, and it was
always at this point
that the birds clung
before entering the
hole.
Naturally I hoped
I might find some clue
to the birds' purpose
in putting on the pitch,
but in this I was dis-
appointed. Not only
did I fail to observe the
actual process of apply-
ing the pitch, but I was
unable to see that its
presence affected the
movements of the birds
in any way, except that
they always entered
the hole at the place
where the pitch was
absent. There was
nothing to indicate
Hr':RLEPSCH BOX USED BY RED-BREASTED NUT-
HATCHES SHOWING PITCH AROUND HOLE
Photographeil by H. T. Shaw, Jr.
that the pitch would be effective in keeping out enemies or in catching
insects which might serve as food. I discussed this matter with Mr. C. J.
Maynard, the naturalist, and he suggested that it might be a relic of some ances-
tral habit when, perhaps, the female may have been entirely sealed in during
the nesting-period. In this connection he pointed out that at the present time
there are certain species of Hornbills in Asia and Africa in which the females
are plastered up in the nest by the males and arc fed by the latter through a
small hole. But whatever is the explanation in the case of the Red-breasted
Nuthatch, it is a habit on which it would be well to have more information.