Bird Homes (1957)

[Music] when the cold of winter is gone and warmth and color return to the Earth we hear the songs of many birds the cheerful song of the Robin is one of the most welcome signs of spring The Robin's home is saddled in this old tree a robin builds one of the most substantial homes in Birdland but by no means the only interesting one bird homes or nests are found in many places in swamps along the seashore in the desert in the woodlands and even in towns and cities they may be perched high in the air hidden in the dark recesses of a tree or on the ground in this film we will see different kinds of bird homes and learn some of the interesting habits of their Builders we will see the kinds of building materials they use and the places where they build their homes this Canada Goose builds her nest near water many birds seem to search out sheltered locations for their nests but some like this mother Canada goose make little effort to hide their home from enemies perhaps because the goose is such a large and powerful bird it instinctively knows it can protect its home from most enemies Birds use their nests as places to lay their eggs and in some cases to cradle their young this Canada Goose Nest is built of grass and a blanket of dowy feathers now Mother Goose returns from feeding in the nearby Pond and marshes and once again takes her place on the nest goslings of the Canada Goose can swim expertly almost from the moment of birth since they find much of their food in or near the water this is an ideal place for them to make their homes here's another Nest built on the ground this one is near the seashore it's the nest of a turn can you see the two eggs in closer it's easier like other birds mother turn warms the eggs with the heat from her body when she leaves the nest warmth from the Sun on the sand helps to hatch the eggs her nest is a little Hollow the color of the eggs Blends so well with the color of Sand and Stone that they are well hidden from the eyes of enemies now mother turn his back to shade her eggs for long absence from The Nest would find the eggs overheated by the sun tidal storms and animals that hunt for bird's eggs destroy many turn nests if they do survive these baby turns will soon take their places among the tremendous flocks of this common waterb bird many birds attempt to hide their homes can you see the bird in this picture now it's easier see how well the color of this mother kilder blends with her surrounding there's her nest and there are her four eggs The Nest is a slight depression in the ground lined with grass kilder eggs are pale buff in color with blotches of black do you know what mother kilder is doing now she's trying to get an enemy to follow her away from the nest and here is the villain pretending to be hurt May attract the hungry snake away from the nest the kild deer's broken wing act also warns other birds of an intruder in about 26 to 28 days the eggs are hatched even the young birds are well hidden in their surroundings because of their coloring notice the white collar about the neck of each baby this is one of the distinguishing marks of the killer baby kers leave the nest shortly after birth since they can run about they have have a better chance to protect themselves on our Western Plains the morning dove sometimes nests on the ground her nest is a flimsy structure of little Twigs notice how her color keeps her well hidden doves lay two eggs and have three or four Broods during each breeding season this little burrowing owl has its home in a hole in the ground it prefers abandoned animal Burrows like those of the skunt or prairie dog but is capable of digging its own home if the ground is soft The Nest is usually lined with weed stocks and broken bits of cow and horse dong the burrowing owl is very active and quite odd in its movements some birds like to attach their nests to structures that have been built by man the Phoebe likes water and has attached her nest under this bridge it is so dark here we have used an elect El light to show the nest of mud and moss in this Woodland not far from water is the nest of the green heron a tree with dense foliage often Evergreen is a favorite site with the nest anywhere from 15 to 20 ft from the ground the Heron's Nest is an untidy structure it's an unlined platform of loose sticks herons have four or five eggs of a pale green color although usually solitary nesters herons often live in colonies with other herens or gral among scattered small trees or dense Shrubbery we find the yellow warbler its nest is usually within 10 ft of the ground and is placed in an upright Fork of a small tree or shrub The Nest structure is an interlacing of bark and plant fibers and grass and plant Downs the eggs number 2 to six but there are usually four with its Rich decorative plumage the yellow warbler is a beautiful bird these baby warblers are now ready to leave the nest next next to sparrows we have more kinds of Warblers than any other birds some birds like the woodpecker use their sharp beaks to Chisel their homes in the trunks of decaying trees this woodpecker is busy bringing food to her nest can you see any of the babies peering from the cavity that is their home swamps and bayos in warm climates are the nesting places of the anhinga or Snake Bird its popular name is the water turkey the anhinga is about 3 ft long the male is mostly a glossy greenish black its nest is constructed of sticks leaves dry grass roots and Moss the anhinga Stout webbed feet and sharp claws enable it to clump with ease notice the long necks and the snake-like movements of the necks of these birds red tailed hawks build large and bulky nests high above the ground in the forks of large trees a platform of sticks lined with smaller Twigs bits of bark Fern leaves and Moss make up the nest the great horned owl often makes its home in the deserted nest of other large birds those of red tailed hawks bald eagles and herens are frequently used Cactus Rens usually make their homes in the thorniest places of the choya cactus see how well they are protected purple martins are Community dwellers and like to live in box-like houses provided they're in the open and up on a 15 to 20ft pole often a dozen or more pairs of these birds will occupy as many compartments of a bird box birds are common and easily observed forms of animal life knowing the common varieties in your neighborhood helps you understand nature better and learning the habits of birds that are new to you can be an interesting hobby a study of birds can be not only delightful but also of value to science there is still much that we do not know and your observations May contribute some worthwhile knowledge about this world of living things [Music]