Omaha Bird Records, Feb.-May, 1903
Item
17
case we could plainly see the bird on the nest by means of two mirrors; it is a great
scheme. We took photographs, detail and site, of the third nest, the one in the natural
cavity.
At the second nest we had a very unusual experience. When we first passed the nest
and examined it the bird shot out like a bullet. I had occasion a half hour later
to pass the nest alone, and when I thrust my fingers into the entrance there arose
the most uncanny sound imaginable — a peculiar hissing and thumping, very hard to
describe, and not at all of a character to reassure one who did not konw the identity
of the inmate. I applied the two mirrors to see how it was done, and saw the bird
strike the resonant sides of the cavity with its bill, at the same time emitting a
hissing sound which was prolonged for two seconds after the stroke. It did this repeatedly,
perhaps fifty times while I was at the nest. When I remained quiet the sound would
cease, but if I touched the bark or put my fingers in the hole the sound would begin.
I can not describe the peculiar effect of the sound, but it surely was well adapted to drive
away a large class of intruders.
Three quarters of an hour later our party again visited the nest, and the same program
was repeated. The bird would not leave the nest. I have never before observed this
peculiarity of the chickadee, nor has Trostler, though we have examined many nests.
On moist ground near a spring I found a very prett little beetle, a quarter of an inch long, apparently rather a plain blackish when
viewed casually, but under a glass this resolves itself into a marvel of violet and
bronze and green. The wing-covers are pitted, and these foveae under the glass are burnished craters. The legs are geen, and it is a good runner,
but weak of flight. (Found this to be Elaphrus ruscarius.)
- 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
- 17 case we could plainly see the bird on the nest by means of two mirrors; it is a great scheme. We took photographs, detail and site, of the third nest, the one in the natural cavity. At the second nest we had a very unusual experience. When we first passed the nest and examined it the bird shot out like a bullet. I had occasion a half hour later to pass the nest alone, and when I thrust my fingers into the entrance there arose the most uncanny sound imaginable - a peculiar hissing and thumping, very hard to describe, and not at all of a character to reassure one who did not konw the identity of the inmate. I applied the two mirrors to see how it was done, and saw the bird strike the resonant sides of the cavity with its bill, at the same time emitting a hissing sound which was prolonged for two seconds after the stroke. It did this repeatedly, perhaps fifty times while I was at the nest. When I remained quiet the sound would cease, but if I touched the bark or put my fingers in the hole the sound would begin. I can not describe the peculiar effect of the sound, but it surely was well adapted to drive away a large class of intruders. Three quarters of an hour later our party again visited the nest, and the same program was repeated. The bird would not leave the nest. I have never before observed this peculiarity of the chickadee, nor has Trostler , though we have examined many nests. On moist ground near a spring I found a very prett little beetle, a quarter of an inch long, apparently rather a plain blackish when viewed casually, but under a glass this resolves itself into a marvel of violet and bronze and green. The wing-covers are pitted, and these foveae under the glass are burnished craters. The legs are geen, and it is a good runner, but weak of flight. (Found this to be Elaphrus ruscarius .)
- Rights
- To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
- Site pages
- Frank H. Shoemaker, "Omaha Bird Records"
