Some Common Birds

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 4, 7 August 1931, Page 6

Some Common Birds

OUR feathered friends must ‘have a very staunch friend in Mr. R. A. Falla, M.A., who spoke on Friday from 1YA. I am quite’ cértain that all Mr. Falla’s listeners will have a quickened interest in the welfare of the birds after hearing his very able talk. on that: topic. Mr. Falla made early reference to the alertness, activity, and general air of spruceness noticeable in all birds. Come to think of it, the’ times: when we catch a bird looking listless or with a morning-after-the-night-before air about it, are few and far between. Always do they seem full of vim and vigorous activity. The fact that their blood is perpetually at.a temperature of from 104 to 114 degrees F. may have a lot to do with it. We get a bit restless when ours goes over 99 degrees; in fact I have an uncle who- becomes -agi-+ tated when he thinks that his is over 98 degrees; birds, however, ‘semingly everlastingly on the. boil, thrive easily. A close study of their habits: has given Mr. Falla illuminating data. For instance young. birds, . during the first -t days of their existence, must their own weight ‘in food every twen four hours. As they live almost entirely. upon insects during. that time, -the parent birds are kept pretty . busy, and once. again does Nature provide an even balance in that the voracious appetities of the young birds cause‘a heavy toll to be taken in insect life just at the time when’ these insects are’ multiplying at an excessive rate.. Mr. Falla concluded a most entertaining lecture by giving an imitation of the various calls and songs of some of the better known birds., I think the speaker expressed doubt as to whether | such -would go:over the air at:all .cor- * rectly ;: let me assure. him that they were quite. excellent. ‘Particularly clever did I consider ‘the’ plaintive’ notes of the little Grey Warbler. I. hope to hear more on the: same topic | from this able lecturer, ‘