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Title
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The Omaha Bird Room
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Date
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1903
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Creator
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Frank Shoemaker
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Description
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Frank Shoemaker - Omaha, Lincoln, and Nebraska Narratives
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Identifier
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321301
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Transcription
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[Page 21] the grosbeaks, the carinal, and the Jap, have been tempted to take food from a plate held in our hands. The sparrows are so self-centered and so busy with plots and feuds (against each other only) that in the main they treat us will chilling indifference. The chickadee is positively fearless, and obviously likes us as playmates. Frequently one of use goes into the room and takes a seed from the dish -to which, of course, he has had access all day; he comes for it like a shot, and generally chooses a finger as the proper place for breaking the seed. He holds it firmly with his feet, and hammers away with blows which would ruin a toe if they varied from accuracy by the tiniest fraction of an inch. He has a deal of curiosity about our clothing, which I presume he considers our bark; which, after all, is a passable definition. He likes to climb about and explore buttonholes and vest pockets, or ribbons and lace, as the case may be. Probably he is hoping for worms or larvae in this odd bark; and while, on reflection, this innuendo might be reasonably resented as a general proposition, we take it joyfully from him. He is a wonderful acrobat and equilibrist, landing on practically nothing and clinging there with ease, and is quite as happy upside down as in an attitude which conservatives would smugly define as right. Sometimes I take up some hemp seeds and extend my arm invitingly. Of course, he arrives. But instead of opening my hand as an open-handed gentleman would, I keep the fingers lightly closed, so that he
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Rights
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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.
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Is Version Of
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The Omaha Bird Room