The Baby Bird and Its Problems

By W. Bickerton

First published in 1927, "The Baby Bird and Its Problems" is a vintage treatise on young birds with a special focus on their early development and common ailments. The author combined the simple observations of the naturalist with contemporary scientific understanding, making for fascinating and informative reading. This volume is highly recommended for those with an interest in ornithology, and it is not to be missed by collectors of vintage bird watching literature. Contents include: "The Call Of Spring", "The Homes In Which The Baby Birds Are Born", "The Eggs From Which The Nesting Birds Are Hatched", "The Baby Bird Within The Egg", "How Young Birds are Protected Against Their Enemies", " How And On What Young Birds Are Fed", " How And On What Young Birds Are Fed (continued)", "How The Nursery In Some Cases Is Kept Clean", "How Young Birds Are Affected By The Heat", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality addition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on ornithology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Country Books
• Release date: Sep 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781473344099

Book preview

THE BABY BIRD AND ITS PROBLEMS

Ornithology

Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Etymologically, the word ‘ornithology’ derives from the ancient Greek ὄρνις ornis (bird) and λόγος logos (rationale or explanation). The science of ornithology has a long history and studies on birds have helped develop several key concepts in evolution, behaviour and ecology such as the definition of species, the process of speciation, instinct, learning, ecological niches and conservation. Whilst early ornithology was principally concerned with descriptions and distributions of species, ornithologists today seek answers to very specific questions, often using birds as models to test hypotheses or predictions based on theories. However, most modern biological theories apply across taxonomie groups, and consequently, the number of professional scientists who identify themselves as ‘ornithologists’ has declined. That this specific science has become part of the biological mainstream though, is in itself a testament to the field’s importance.

Humans observed birds from the earliest times, and Stone Age drawings are among the oldest indications of an interest in birds, primarily due to their importance as a food source. One of the first key texts on ornithology was Aristotle’s Historia Animalium (350 BC), in which he noted the habit of bird migration, moulting, egg laying and life span. He also propagated several, unfortunately false myths, such as the idea that swallows hibernated in winter. This idea became so well established, that even as late as 1878, Elliott Coues (an American surgeon, historian and ornithologist) could list as many as 182 contemporary publications dealing with the hibernation of swallows. In the Seventeenth century, Francis Willughby (1635-1672) and John Ray (16271705) came up with the first major system of bird classification that was based on function and morphology rather than on form or behaviour, this was a major breakthrough in terms of scientific thought, and Willughby’s Ornithologiae libri tres (1676), completed by John Ray is often thought to mark the beginning of methodical ornithology. It was not until the Victorian era though, with the emergence of the gun and the concept of natural history, that ornithology emerged as a specialized science. This specialization led to the formation in Britain of the British Ornithologists’ Union in 1858, and the following year, its journal The Ibis was founded.

This sudden spurt in ornithology was also due in part to colonialism. The bird collectors of the Victorian era observed the variations in bird forms and habits across geographic regions, noting local specialization and variation in widespread species. The collections of museums and private collectors grew with contributions from various parts of the world. This spread of the science meant that many amateurs became interested in ‘bird watching’ — with real possibilities to contribute knowledge. As early as 1916, Julian Huxley wrote a two part article in the Auk, noting the tensions between amateurs and professionals and suggesting that the ‘vast army of bird-lovers and bird-watchers could begin providing the data scientists needed to address the fundamental problems of biology.’ Organizations were started in many countries and these grew rapidly in membership, most notable among them being the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), founded in 1889 in Britain and the Audubon Society, founded in 1885 in the US.

Today, the science of ornithology is thriving, with many practical and economic applications such as the management of birds in food production (grainivorous birds, such as the Red billed Quelea are a major agricultural pest in parts of Africa), and the study of birds, as carriers of human diseases, such as Japanese Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and H5N1. Of course, many species of birds have been driven to (or near) extinction by human activities, and hence ornithology has played an important part in conservation, utilising many location specific approaches. Critically endangered species such as the California Condor have been captured and bred in captivity, and it is hoped that many more birds can be saved in a like manner.

I. YOUNG TREE CREEPERS

A STUDY IN PROTECTIVE COLORATION

THE BABY BIRD AND ITS PROBLEMS

BY

W. BICKERTON, F.Z.S., F.R.P.S.

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION

WITH NINETY-SIX ILLUSTRATIONS

TO

MY WIFE

PREFACE

THIS book aims at approaching the study of bird life from a somewhat unusual angle. It attempts, as far as the limitations of the subject allow, to interpret the simple observations of the field naturalist in the light of the principles of elementary biology. Thus by associating the visible facts of Nature with some of the underlying causes that have operated in moulding them, it is hoped that the reader’s interest will be deepened; his curiosity stimulated; his outlook enlarged; his power of interpretation strengthened.

As opportunity offers, the book tries also to illustrate the relation between the structure or equipment of a bird, its habits, and the surroundings in which it lives; for to these last in some degree, the life of every bird is a response.

The writer ventures to prefer the modest claim that his book is one practical outcome of a patient, lifelong study of wild birds and their ways in the field; of an observation emphasized, and—may he say—visualized in as many cases as possible, by the evidence of the camera.

For a period of twenty years (1901–21) he acted as Recorder of Birds to the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and Field Club. In addition to keeping the written records for the Society he fortified these as far as opportunities permitted, by preparing a photographic record of the County birds and their ways of life. This in turn was amplified by similar records of certain birds of the sea and the shore among whose haunts he was enabled, from time to time, to spend a holiday week.

So that the illustrations to this volume, all of them prepared from the writer’s own photographs, represent one of the by-products of more than twenty years’ field work with the camera. Only those naturalists who have tried this patient, yet at times exciting method of bird study, can realize its fascination, appreciate its difficulties, philosophize upon its failures, and in the fullest sense, enjoy its successes: it is the very essence of intimate bird study, with the homes of the birds themselves and the birds themselves at home, as its focus. And to the lover of birds at least, it is in as real a sense The Contemplative Man’s Recreation, as old Izaak Walton’s pursuit of angling proved to him and his fraternity; yet with the added satisfaction that the life of the creatures for which he lays his lures is never at forfeit in the game.

As the book concerns itself mainly with the activities of young birds, so is it intended that its prime, though not its sole appeal shall be to the youthful reader; to the aspiring naturalist. Therefore is it designed inter alia, to engage and to enlarge the sympathies of that ever-widening circle of older boys and girls in and from all grades of schools whose natural inclination is being prompted to some acquaintance with, some understanding of, the life of the wild things about them: especially with the most obvious and the most easily accessible of them all—the birds.

It is all to the good that Nature Study is securing a wider recognition in the school curriculum: that, as with many others of our young folk Boy Scouts and Girl Guides are encouraged to a closer observation of the life activities of the outdoor world. To add the Naturalist’s Badge to the other qualifications of Scout-craft is, as the writer knows from the examination of a large number of essays written for that purpose, a keen ambition with many Scouts.

Thus from an early association with the subject, Nature knowledge not only grows from more to more, but usually expands into sympathy; these qualities in turn evoke wonder and admiration: the protection of our native fauna (and incidentally of our flora also) against spoliation and destruction gradually becomes an ideal: for the development of this, the temperament and training of the Scout Movement give exactly the right stimulus.

It is one of the aims of the writer of this book to do some little towards fostering that ideal.

Finally, the author desires to express his obligations and to tender his thanks to Messrs. Witherby, the publishers of his book on The Home Life of the Terns or Sea-Swallows, for permission to use the substance of one of its chapters in this new book; to the Editor of Country Life for permission to use an extract from that journal in the same chapter; to Lord Rothschild for permission to photograph specimens of birds and birds’ eggs in the Zoological Museum at Tring, and to use them as illustrations in this work; and to Dr. E. Hartert, the Director of the Museum, for valuable assistance and advice in this connection.

W. B.

WATFORD, HERTS

November, 1927

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

With the exception of the Frontispiece, these are to be found at the end of the book

1. YOUNG TREE CREEPERS: A STUDY IN PROTECTIVE COLOURATION FRONTISPIECE

2. SONG THRUSH’S NEST ON THE GROUND

3. SITE OF ROBIN’S NEST: A DISCARDED WASH-TIN

4. THE NEST AND EGGS WITHIN

5. WREN’S NEST IN A COIL OF ROPE

6. GREAT TITS AT NEST IN A DISUSED RAINPIPE

7. BLUE TIT AT NEST IN A METAL BOTTLE

8. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER’S NEST IN A MILK SIEVE

9. ARCTIC TERN’S NEST MADE OF RABBIT BUTTONS

10. NEST AND EGGS OF COMMON SANDPIPER

11. THE DIFFERENT SHAPES OF EGGS. (MUSEUM SPECIMENS)

12. EGGS OF GUILLEMOT, RAZORBILL AND PUFFIN: A STUDY IN ADAPTATION. (MUSEUM SPECIMENS)

13. EGGS OF ( a ) SNIPE AND BLACKBIRD; ( b ) CURLEW AND RAVEN. (MUSEUM SPECIMENS)

14. A CLUTCH OF ONE: THE PUFFIN

15. A CLUTCH OF NINETEEN: THE PHEASANT

16. NEST AND EGGS OF OYSTERCATCHER ON SHINGLE: A STUDY IN PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE

17. NEST AND EGGS OF LESSER TERN ON THE SHORE: A SIMILAR STUDY

18. THE OYSTERCATCHER’S NEST IN NO. 16 PHOTOGRAPHED AT CLOSE RANGE

19. A LESSER TERN’S NEST TAKEN AT CLOSE QUARTERS

20. NEST AND EGGS OF WILD DUCK (MALLARD)

21. THE SAME NEST: EGGS COVERED OVER BY THE MOTHER BIRD BEFORE SHE LEFT THEM

22. NEST OF BLACK-HEADED GULL: ONE EGG NORMAL; ONE EGG CHIPPING; ONE CHICK HATCHED OUT

23. NEST OF GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL: EGG CHIPPING

24. YOUNG SANDWICH TERN STRUGGLING OUT OF THE SHELL

25. SANDWICH TERN; EGG AND YOUNG

26. YOUNG BLACKCAPS: BLIND AND NAKED (NIDICOLOUS YOUNG)

27. YOUNG RAZORBILL: CLOTHED AND ACTIVE (NIDIFUGOUS YOUNG)

28. SANDWICH TERNS IN NEST: LIGHTER COLOURED

29. SANDWICH TERNS IN NEST: DARKER COLOURED. A STUDY IN COLOUR VARIATION WITHIN THE SAME SPECIES

30. NUTHATCH’S NESTING HOLE PARTLY PLASTERED UP TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE ENTRANCE

31. PHEASANT’S NEST: EGGS HATCHED AND UNHATCHED

32. YOUNG PARTRIDGES FEEDING

33. THREE NEWLY-HATCHED PEEWITS IN THE NEST

34. A YOUNG PEEWIT ESCAPED FROM THE NEST—ENLARGED VIEW

35. YOUNG OYSTERCATCHER HIDING AMONG THE ROCKS

36. THREE YOUNG SNIPE SQUATTING IN THE GRASS

37. THREE YOUNG PEEWITS SQUATTING SEPARATELY IN DEAD BRACKEN

38. YOUNG ARCTIC TERN ON THE GRASS

39. YOUNG ARCTIC TERN ON LICHEN-GROWN ROCK. (ILLUSTRATIONS 32 TO 39 ARE LIKE THE FRONTISPIECE ALL STUDIES IN PROTECTIVE COLOURATION)

40. SONG THRUSH FEEDING QUITE YOUNG CHICKS

41. SKYLARK FEEDING WELL-GROWN YOUNG

42. SONG THRUSH FEEDING FULL-GROWN YOUNG

43. A FATHER BLACKBIRD’S CATCH OF WORMS

44. MALE STONECHAT WITH A LARGE CATERPILLAR

44a. FEMALE STONECHAT: A MIXED BAG

45. BLACKCAP WITH FOOD FOR YOUNG

46. WOOD WREN WITH CATERPILLAR

47. MALE REED BUNTING WITH DRAGON FLY AND SPIDER FOR HIS BROOD

48. A LARGE FAMILY OF BLUE TITS

49. A CHAFFINCH WITH BEAK FULL OF PREPARED FOOD FOR THE YOUNG

50. GREEN WOODPECKER ABOUT TO FEED THE YOUNG ONE WITH PREPARED FOOD

51. A KINGFISHER WITH HIS MINNOW

52. A COLLECTION OF OWL CASTINGS FROM A SINGLE NEST

53. SOME OF THE PELLETS THAT WERE PARTLY DECOMPOSED

54. A PUFFIN WITH HIS CATCH OF FOUR

55. THREE KINDS OF FISHING TACKLE EVOLVED BY SEA BIRDS: COMMON GUILLEMOT, RAZORBILL AND PUFFIN (MUSEUM SPECIMENS)

56. MALE BLACKBIRD MAKING A SANITARY INSPECTION OF HIS NURSERY

57. SONG THRUSH REMOVING FOUL MATTER FROM THE NEST

58. ROBIN REDBREAST CLEARING OUT HIS NEST

59. A CHIFFCHAFF SIMILARLY ENGAGED

60. A GREAT TIT ON THE SAME QUEST

61. A TREE CREEPER ON A LIKE ERRAND EMPLOYED

62. NESTING LEDGES OF GUILLEMOTS FOULED BY THE ADULT BIRDS

63. THE KITTIWAKE GULLS FOUL BOTH THEIR NESTS AND THE SURROUNDINGS IN WHICH THEY ARE PLACED

64. THREE ADULT ARCTIC TERNS PANTING WITH THE HEAT

65. YOUNG LONG-TAILED TIT ENJOYING HIS FIRST STRETCH

66. YOUNG REED WARBLER PANTING

67. THE SAME BIRD: A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE

68. YOUNG BLACKCAPS GREATLY DISTRESSED BY THE HEAT

69. YOUNG MISSEL THRUSH WITH WINGS EXTENDED OUTSIDE THE NEST

70. YOUNG CUCKOO IN REED WARBLER’S NEST: WINGS SIMILARLY EXTENDED

71. NORMAL NESTS OF SONG THRUSH, BLACKBIRD AND MISSEL THRUSH

72. THE SAME NESTS: GRASS LINING REMOVED FROM THE SECOND AND THIRD TO SHOW THE LAYER OF MUD COMMON TO ALL

73. NEST AND EGGS OF MISSEL THRUSH

74. THE MOTHER BRINGING MORE WORMS FOR THE SINGLE CHICK THAT WAS FED UP

75. BROODING—AND WAITING FOR HER CHICK TO GET HUNGRY AGAIN

76. ARCTIC TERN ALIGHTING AT NEST

77. WALKING ON TO HER NEST AND CHICK

78. CARRYING AWAY PART OF THE EMPTY EGG-SHELL

79. SETTLING DOWN TO BROOD HER LITTLE ONE

80. MOTHER AND CHICK: A PICTURE OF CONTENTMENT

81. THE LITTLE TERN HAD SCRAMBLED RIGHT AWAY

82. HE RUSHED FORWARD TO GREET HIS FATHER

83. NEGOTIATING HIS FIRST FISH

84. A SECOND BUT SMALLER FISH

85. CUCKOO’S EGG IN HEDGE SPARROW’S NEST

86. CUCKOO’S EGG IN MEADOW PIPIT’S NEST

87. CUCKOO’S EGG IN SEDGE WARBLER’S NEST

88. CUCKOO’S EGG IN PIED WAGTAIL’S NEST

89. THE NEWLY-HATCHED CUCKOO FROM THE WAGTAIL’S NEST—ENLARGED

90. THE SAME BIRD ABOUT FIVE DAYS OLD

91. ROBIN BRINGING FOOD TO THE YOUNG CUCKOO SHE HAS REARED

92. YOUNG CUCKOO IN REED WARBLER’S NEST IN REEDS

93. YOUNG CUCKOO IN REED WARBLER’S NEST IN A WILLOW

94. FULL-GROWN YOUNG CUCKOO IN WAGTAIL’S NEST; THE WAGTAIL HAS JUST DELIVERED HER CATCH

95. REED WARBLER FEEDING THE SAME BIRD AS IN (93) AFTER HE HAS LEFT THE NEST

THE BABY BIRD AND ITS PROBLEMS

CHAPTER I

THE CALL OF SPRING

WHEN Spring returns the magic of its spell enchants us all, as the new world of Faery opens before us, gaining in beauty and in loveliness with each day’s increase. Inevitably we are drawn to the quickening moods and aspects of the outdoor world; to its slow and subtle crescendo of colour and movement; of fragrance, of music, of life; to the glories that Nature is calling forth from the grey-drab scenes on which we have gazed through the somnolence and the nakedness of winter.

The landscapes lighten as they widen; the sunlight is more radiant; the shadows, more luminous and more luxuriant by day, are more vibrant with the subtle witchery of eventide; the soft sweet green of the tender leaf steals silently o’er hedgerow, field and woodland, suffusing the face of Expectant Earth with the glow of resurgent Life; unfolding a new and a gracious vision of High Festival to be.

The opening flowers, called forth by