Bird lore - Project Puffin

A Rescued Robin
In looking ivbout after a heavy storm in
the middle of July, I was attracted by the
cry of a mother Robin, which, on seeing
me, began circling around, then darting
to a place in the muddy road. I followed
her, and found one of her babies so buried
in a wagon-rut of mud that it was difficult
to tell bird from mud, except by a faint
pulse. Mother Robin flew by my side
until we reached the garden. Then she
seemed to call all the members of her
family and friends, for in a few moments
housetops, telephone wires, fences, and
trellises were covered with excited Robins,
Bluebirds, and Wrens. We put the lump
of breathing mud into a bath to soak,
which was duly performed in full sight of
Mother and T'ather Robin, relatives,
friends and Sparrows. When the diminished
lump was rinsed, disinfected and
dried, there was little left but a few pin-
feathers, two closed eyes, and a broken
leg. However, it was encouraging to feel
a stronger pulse, and to see a huge bill
opening for food.
The Audubon Societies 67
NOTES FROM MANY FIELDS
After setting the broken leg, the merry
sunshine, a soft bed in a basket, and a
worm every second, helped much toward
saving a valuable bird-neighbor.
The parents soon instructed me in
"pure food for Robin culture." Thej'
are especially partial to beetles; however,
a Robin menu includes angle-worms
(which I learned to dig with a sang
froid I never hoped to possess). Nice
juicy caterpillars make up part of their
bill-of-fare; as do also grasshoppers, cut-
worms, locusts, and snails.
With the indefatigable assistance of the
mother, who brought her babe no less
than a hundred helpings each day, and
myself hard at it (Father Robin worked
only occasionally), the pin-feathers soon
developed into a beautifully spotted breast
and lovely brown plumage on the back.
The broken leg was in splendid form in a
fortnight, and, strengthened by daily
massage, it was soon perfect. He enjoyed
—
going about the garden perched on my
finger, with an extra pressure of the
recovered toes to show his appreciation.
Meanwhile a bracket had been made
and our rescued bird (well named "Trouvi
Troubadour" by a dear friend) was
settled comfortably in his very own house,
only a short flight across the garden from
his bath. Remember the value of bird-
life, and that their future largely depends
on our kindness to them. Rosalie A.
Whitmork, Omaha, Neb.
Sending Birds' Nests to the City
Mrs. Anthony W. Dimock, of Peeka-
mose. New York, makes the following inter-
esting report of her Junior Audubon Class:
"The Robin Junior Audubon Circle is
composed of the boys and girls of three
district schools in a Catskill Mountain
valley. No one school has enough pupils
of required age to form a circle, and the
distances between them are so great that
frequent meetings cannot be held, but
good work is being done.
"The most interesting feature of our
work the past year was the collection of
abandoned birds' nests in the autumn.
One school of five pupils collected over
100 nests. From these collections, two
selections of ten nests each were made, to
be sent to New York City. One collection
went to the Jacob Riis Settlement, and
one passed through the hands of three
kindergartners, interesting 100 children.
To each nest was attached a colored pic-
ture of the bird which had made the nest,
and a description of its habits. Letters
from the Settlement children and the
kindergartners brought to the Circle
expressions of delightful appreciation.
The officers of the Circle are. President,
Clark Sheley; Secretary, Helen DuBois;
Treasurer, Pearl Mulford."
A Timely Suggestion
See that your bird-houses are ready in
time for early migrants.