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Omaha Bird Records, Feb.-May, 1903

Item

15

of the day was cloudy and fair by turns, rather too cool, and with too much wind.

Leaves are unfolding rapidly, and many wild flowers are in bloom — Dicentra, Erythronium, blue and yellow violets, claytonia, phlox, plum, cherry, and redbud. We also found
two blood-roots, which are not at all common here.

We took no pictures, but had an all-around good time, and got a lot of fresh air and
exercise.

We went to the lark’s nest this evening, where a calamity awaited us. Two of the young
birds have disappeared. The others are all right and have grown remarkably. Both parents
were feeding the two young which remain.

The work of destruction is completed now. Trostler phoned me today that the other young larks and the nest have been taken. I must cancel
all feelings of gratitude and pleasure earlier expressed, and revert to my former
attitude toward the immature biped denominated by Plato “the most vicious of wild
beasts.” It is sickening to think of those downy darlings starving and caressed to
death. Oh damn!

First brown thrasher

Our party of four left for Childs’ Point at 11 o’clock. The weather was mild, clear,
and windy.

First nest observed was that of a robin, admirably placed for photography, but so
near to a house that we did not dare to direct attention to it.

We had a rather quiet day, loafing in Mill Hollow. Trostler and I went up this valley to its head. We found a nest of the chickadree, in a fence post at the side of the ravine. The excavation was evidently the work
of a downy woodpecker, to the hole being about

Frank Shoemaker - Omaha, Lincoln, and Nebraska Narratives
Title
Omaha Bird Records, Feb.-May, 1903
Date
Feb.-May, 1903
Creator
Frank Shoemaker
Description
Frank Shoemaker - Omaha, Lincoln, and Nebraska Narratives
Identifier
321301
Transcription
15 of the day was cloudy and fair by turns, rather too cool, and with too much wind. Leaves are unfolding rapidly, and many wild flowers are in bloom - Dicentra , Erythronium , blue and yellow violets, claytonia, phlox, plum, cherry, and redbud. We also found two blood-roots, which are not at all common here. We took no pictures, but had an all-around good time, and got a lot of fresh air and exercise. April 20 We went to the lark's nest this evening, where a calamity awaited us. Two of the young birds have disappeared. The others are all right and have grown remarkably. Both parents were feeding the two young which remain. April 21 The work of destruction is completed now. Trostler phoned me today that the other young larks and the nest have been taken. I must cancel all feelings of gratitude and pleasure earlier expressed, and revert to my former attitude toward the immature biped denominated by Plato "the most vicious of wild beasts." It is sickening to think of those downy darlings starving and caressed to death. Oh damn! April 22 First brown thrasher April 26 Our party of four left for Childs' Point at 11 o'clock. The weather was mild, clear, and windy. First nest observed was that of a robin, admirably placed for photography, but so near to a house that we did not dare to direct attention to it. We had a rather quiet day, loafing in Mill Hollow. Trostler and I went up this valley to its head. We found a nest of the chickadree, in a fence post at the side of the ravine. The excavation was evidently the work of a downy woodpecker, to the hole being about
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