(Ebook PDF) Engineering Your Future An Australasian Guide 3Rd Download
(Ebook PDF) Engineering Your Future An Australasian Guide 3Rd Download
     https://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-engineering-your-
                   future-an-australasian-guide-3rd/
     http://ebooksecure.com/product/original-pdf-engineering-your-
     future-a-brief-introduction-to-engineering-6th-edition/
     http://ebooksecure.com/product/original-pdf-engineering-your-
     future-a-comprehensive-introduction-to-engineering-9th-edition/
     http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-contemporary-strategic-
     management-an-australasian-perspective-2th/
     https://ebooksecure.com/download/lift-your-impact-transform-your-
     mindset-influence-and-future-to-elevate-your-work-team-and-life-
     ebook-pdf/
(Original PDF) Navigating Your Future Success, 2nd
Edition By Bruce J. Colbert
http://ebooksecure.com/product/original-pdf-navigating-your-
future-success-2nd-edition-by-bruce-j-colbert/
https://ebooksecure.com/download/personal-finance-building-your-
future-ebook-pdf/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/off-grid-solar-photovoltaic-solar-
power-system-for-your-home-an-easy-guide-to-install-a-solar-
power-system-in-your-home-ebook-pdf/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/original-pdf-teacher-edition-for-
entrepreneurship-owning-your-future-high-school-version-12th-
edition/
http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-building-your-dream-a-
canadian-guide-to-starting-your-own-business-10th-canadian-
edition/
DOWLING   HADGRAFT   CAREW   McCARTHY   HARGREAVES   BAILLIE
ENGINEERING
AN
 N AUSTRALASIAN
              N GUIDE                       THIRD EDITION
CONTENTS
v i     C O NT E NTS
Systems thinking           72                           Part 2 Engineering in society                  113
Spotlight: Weather models 74
The system boundary             75
                                                        3. Sustainable engineering           115
                                                                                             C O NT E NTS      v i i
    Community communication and                               Spotlight: Reporting a leaky pipe        190
    consultation 153                                          Ethical theories      191
    Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)           155     Morals and ethics         192
    Spotlight: Multi-criteria evaluation: recreation and      Spotlight: James Hardie and asbestos-related
    tourism in Victoria    155                                disease 195
    Engagement techniques 157                                 Common ethical dilemmas in
    Economically sustainable engineering              158     engineering 197
    Costing 158                                               Micro ethics 198
    Economic theories 159                                     Spotlight: Citicorp structural failure
    Least cost planning 160                                   averted 201
    Spotlight: Least cost planning in the ‘sunburnt           Balancing conflicting interests             202
    country’ 160                                              Spotlight: Whistleblower slams Japan nuclear
      Summary     163                                         regulation 204
      Key terms    164                                        Macro ethics        205
      Exercises    164                                        Spotlight: Free prior and informed consent 206
      Project activity   166                                  Culture and corruption 207
                                                              International business etiquette             208
4 P
   rofessional responsibility and
                                                              Corruption and bribery 208
  ethics 171
                                                              Spotlight: Monsanto penalised for bribery 210
    Learning objectives 171                                     Summary     211
    Introduction 172                                            Key terms   213
    Professional responsibility: standards and                  Exercises   213
    professional liability 174                                  Project activity 214
    Spotlight: Shared paths and the role of
    engineers 177                                           Part 3 Professional skills              219
    Work Health and Safety (WHS) and
    personal liability 179                                  5. Self-management           221
v i i i   C O NT E NTS
  Spotlight: 1. A mechanical engineering                  Working in groups        284
  graduate’s perspective 234                              Spotlight: Engineering design is a team
  Spotlight: 2. A structural engineering                  sport 285
  graduate’s perspective 236                              Establishing a group or team 287
  Sources of inspiration        238                       The fundamentals of an effective
  Spotlight: Telecommunications towers 239                group 289
  Spotlight: Putting passion into practice 241            The life cycle of a team 294
  Developing your skills 243                              Spotlight: Tips for student teams 295
  Developing an inquiring mind             243
                                                          Improving performance          297
  Spotlight: Hydrographic surveys 245
                                                          Spotlight: Creating high-performance project
  Self-management skills 247
                                                          teams 297
  Developing goals and strategies            248
                                                          Leadership 299
  Being responsible 248
                                                          The benefits of working with others           301
  Being professional 249
                                                          Meetings 301
  Managing your time effectively             249
                                                          The purpose 302
  Life-long learning 251
                                                          The style 302
  Spotlight: A 3D printed car    251
  Knowledge frameworks             254
                                                          The timing 305
  The program framework            255
                                                          The length of the meeting 305
  Managing your learning           260
                                                          The participants 305
  Spotlight: The law of the pendulum 261                  The procedures 305
  Spotlight: Promoting a culture of life-long learning    Your contribution 306
  among engineering staff 266                             Organising a meeting 306
  Reviewing your performance             269              The role of technology in meetings           309
  Spotlight: A reflection: working on large projects in   Spotlight: Moving the earth via video     310
  isolated areas       270                                Negotiation 311
  Levels of reflection 272                                The preparation process 312
  Kolb’s Learning Cycle 273                               Approaches to negotiation 313
    Summary     274                                       Outcomes of the negotiation process             315
    Key terms    276                                      Spotlight: Negotiating tight spaces 316
    Exercises    276                                      Dispute resolution       318
    Project activity   277                                Conflict resolution      318
                                                            Summary     319
6. Collaborating with others           281                  Key terms   320
  Learning objectives        281                            Exercises   320
  Introduction 282                                          Project activity 321
                                                                                               C O NT E NTS     i x
Part 4 Communication               325                         Summary     374
                                                               Key terms    375
7. Understanding communication                327              Exercises    375
    Learning objectives 327                                    Project activity   376
    Introduction 328
    What is communication? 330                             8. Communication skills        379
x    C O NT E NTS
    Summary     424                                       Recording data about information
    Key terms   425                                       sources 462
    Exercises   425                                       Evaluating information and information
                                                          sources 463
Part 5 Applying the engineering                           Evaluating information sources 463
method 429                                                Evaluating information 464
9. Understanding the problem              431             Spotlight: Death by lack of design — the Hyatt
                                                          Regency Skywalk disaster 465
  Learning objectives 431
                                                          Refining information needs 469
  Introduction 432
                                                          Managing and using information            469
  Data, information and knowledge               434
                                                          Integrating information 469
  Data 434
                                                            Spotlight: Road design specifications — a
  Spotlight: GPS accuracy — can we rely on it? 436
                                                            summary approach 470
  Information 438
                                                            Publishing information 471
  Knowledge 438
                                                            A literature review 472
  Differentiating between data, information
                                                            An information management system              472
  and knowledge 439
                                                            Spotlight: 3D buildings in a 3D world 473
  Identifying information needs 442
                                                            Citing and referencing 476
  Investigative questioning 442
                                                            Listing and citing print references 477
  Spotlight: Flood protection for a mine tailings
                                                            Listing and citing online references 478
  slurry system 443
                                                            Further information about referencing
  Categories of information 444                             styles 479
  Organising information needs 445                            Summary     479
  Locating and retrieving information             448
                                                              Key terms    481
  Typical sources of engineering                              Exercises   481
  information 448                                             Project activity 481
  Documents 449
  Colleagues 451                                        10. Engineering design        485
  Stakeholders 452                                          Learning objectives 485
  Spotlight: Green light for better operating               Introduction 486
  theatres   452                                            Design = problem solving 487
  Geographic information systems 454                        Key ideas in the design process        488
  Library search tools 456                                  Systems thinking 492
  Internet search tools 456                                 Stakeholders 494
  Developing a search strategy 457                          Spotlight: Interface’s carpet design
  Spotlight: Surf, dive ‘n’ scan?   461                     makeover      496
                                                                                            C O NT E NTS    x i
        Socio–ecological thinking         498                Mathematical modelling in design            556
        Whole system design goals         500                Power output 557
        Spotlight: Living Building Challenge 502             Maximising energy production 559
        Whole system design elements            503          Safety 562
        Spotlight: Formula E — High performance              Checking 562
        electric cars    513                                 Hierarchy of models 563
        Generating alternative solutions           514       Spotlight: Software checking   563
        Five Ws and an H 515                                   Summary     564
        Research 515                                           Key terms   565
        Spotlight: Rethinking timber: a story of               Exercises   565
        long life 516                                          Project activity 566
        Brainstorming 517
        Lateral thinking, parallel thinking              12. Engineering decision making           569
x i i     C O NT E NTS
    ‘Pen and paper’ decision support tools         588   A case study: designing and constructing a
    Spotlight: Designing a natural air conditioning      ‘green-star’ building 615
    system 589                                           Using a tool to plan the project
    Computer-based DSS 589                               stages 617
    Networked DSS relying on communications              Planning the stages of the green-star
    technology 592                                       building project 621
    Spotlight: SMART decisions for bridge                Human resources 630
    maintenance 595                                      Financial resources 630
    Intelligent DSS (IDSS)         597                   Spotlight: High speed rail for Australia 631
    GIS-based DSS (SDSS)           598                   Creating a risk-management plan             632
    Spotlight: Flood emergency DSS for the Gold          Dependency risks 632
    Coast 599                                            Design risks 633
      Summary     601                                    Construction risks and safety 634
      Key terms   602                                    Internal project risks 637
      Exercises   602
                                                         Long-term risks for the green-star
      Project activity 602
                                                         building 638
                                                         Spotlight: Piano stairs   638
13. Managing engineering projects            605         Developing a knowledge
    Learning objectives 605                              management plan 639
    Introduction 606                                     Document storage, archiving and data
    Understanding project management 607                 mining 639
    Key factors in project management 608                Sharing knowledge 640
    A historical perspective of project                  Communities of practice 640
    management 609                                       Student knowledge management 642
    Spotlight: Egyptian pyramids    609                  Quality management and its relationship
    Knowledge Engineering for Geospatial                 to project management 642
    Systems (KEGS) 611                                   Key quality management principles 643
    Critical path method (CPM) and                       Engineering quality management 644
    program evaluation and review technique              Quality plans and engineering 646
    (PERT) 611                                           Quality and the engineering student 647
    Spotlight: Desalination 612                          Quality and student team projects 647
    The Project Management Body of                         Summary     648
    Knowledge (PMBOK) and beyond              613          Key terms   649
    Planning the stages of an                              Exercises   649
    engineering project 614                                Project activity 651
                                                                                         C O NT E NTS    x i i i
14. Communicating information              653           Risk management documents            686
        Learning objectives 653                          Technical presentations 688
        Introduction 654                                 Spotlight: Did poor presentation contribute to the
        Two communication contexts 655                   Columbia Space Shuttle disaster? 689
        The business context 656                         Spotlight: Slide rules 692
        The discipline context 656                       Visual communication 694
        Planning a communication 657                     Drawings, plans and sketches         694
x i v     C O NT E NTS
Engineering and globalisation         731          An engineering career 745
Employment in Australia 732                        Work to rule — or be inspired to work
Globalisation 733                                  towards a fulfilling career 746
Spotlight: Nike, globalisation and corporate       Management approaches 746
citizenship 734                                    Different types of engineering
Development and post development            735    organisations 747
Spotlight: On mining, poverty and                  Spotlight: Making dreams a reality 748
development 736                                    Efficiency and respect in the workplace      749
Futuristic engineering: emerging                   Continuing professional development
fields 737                                         (CPD) 750
Industrial biotechnology 738                       Career planning 751
Materials science 738                                Summary       752
Spotlight: Building the Impossible 739               Key terms     753
Phytomining       740                                Exercises     753
Biomimicry      740                                  Project activity 755
Spotlight: Sharks in the air   741
Animatronics      742                             Glossary   757
Spotlight: Weta Workshop and Weta                 Index   764
Digital 743
                                                                                C O NT E NTS    x v
                              A BOUT THE AUTHORS
                              DAV I D D O W L I N G
                              DipLSurv, ARMIT, BAppSci, MSurvMap, FIEAust
                              Honorary Professor of Engineering Education
                              Faculty of Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland
x v i   ABOUT   TH E   A U TH O R S
ROGER H A DGR A F T
BE(Hons), MEngSc, DipCompSc, PhD
Deputy Dean, Learning and Teaching, CQUniversity
                                                                                A B O UT   TH E   A U TH O R S    x v i i
                              ANNA CAREW
                              BSc(Hons), PhD
                              Senior Lecturer, University of Tasmania
                              Australian Maritime College
                              I   n 1996, Anna Carew was a water microbiologist and began working with engin-
                                  eers to research novel microbial indicators of water and wastewater quality. Having
                              realised engineering was such a powerful and fascinating field, she moved into indus-
                              trial training at a private consultancy, and, between 1998 and 2000, worked alongside
                              engineers as a research consultant in sustainable water and waste management with the
                              Institute for Sustainable Futures. A passion to effect change led Anna to undertake her
                              PhD at the University of Sydney investigating the teaching and learning of sustaina-
                              bility in engineering.
                                 Since then, Anna has enthusiastically researched and supported the teaching and
                              learning of undergraduate engineering. Her engineering education work has included
                              mapping the teaching and assessment of graduate attributes in engineering, supporting
                              engineering curriculum review and renewal, documenting engineering academics’ and
                              students’ conceptions of sustainability, and researching why some students struggle to
                              learn first-year mechanics. In 2011, Anna was awarded an Australian Learning and
                              Teaching Council (ALTC) Citation for her outstanding and sustained contribution
                              to graduate attribute teaching and learning. Anna has supported major curriculum
                              renewal and reaccreditation at four Australian engineering faculties, and attracted
                              World Bank funding to assist engineering academics in Chile to modernise curriculum
                              (2007–08). She was the recipient of several grants from the ALTC, including leading
                              a major multi-institutional, cross-disciplinary project on the teaching and assessment
                              of meta-attributes in engineering (2006–08). In 2010, Anna joined the Tasmanian
                              Institute for Agriculture at the University of Tasmania to refocus on technical research;
                               she now spends her time investigating the marvellous fusion of microbiology, chemistry
                               and bioprocess engineering that is pinot noir wine-making.
x v i i i   ABOUT   TH E   A U TH O R S
TIM MCC A RTH Y
BE, MSc, PhD, MIEI
Professor of Structural Engineering, University of Wollongong
P     rofessor Tim McCarthy joined the School of Civil Mining and Environmental
      Engineering in December 2004 after nearly 20 years as Lecturer and Senior
Lecturer at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Tim’s
 specialisations include sustainable buildings, engineering education research, integrated
 design systems and steel structure design, and he has supervised and co-supervised
 52 PhDs, MPhil and MSc theses. In 2010 he received an Australian Learning and
 Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning for leadership in
 curriculum and space design that fosters collaborative learning. Tim is also the author
 of best-selling textbook AutoCAD Express. In 2013 he led the UOW construction team
 to victory in the Solar Decathlon China defeating 20 teams from around the world.
D O U G H A R G R E AV E S
PhD, MSc, BEng
                                                                                     A B O UT   TH E   A U TH O R S    x i x
                             C A ROLINE BA ILLIE
                             BSc(Hons), MHEduc, PhD
                             Chair in Engineering Education; Director of Faculty Academy for the Scholarship of
                             Education, University Western Australia
x x   ABOUT   TH E   A U TH O R S
PR EFACE
T
          he 1996 Review of Engineering Education1 in Australia found that ‘engineering
          education must become more outward looking, more attuned to the real con
           cerns of the communities. Courses should promote environmental, economic and
 global awareness, problem-solving ability, engagement with information technology, self-
 directed learning and lifelong learning, communication, management and teamwork skills,
 but on a sound base of mathematics and engineering technology.’ The report contained a
 series of recommendations that changed the way engineering was taught and learned
 over the following decade.
    One of the key changes was the adoption by Engineers Australia of an outcomes-
 focused accreditation system for undergraduate degrees, based on a set of graduate
 attributes that Engineers Australia defined through industry consultation. Over the last
 decade, engineering schools have adapted their curriculum to ensure that engineering
 students have opportunities to acquire these graduate attributes, in addition to those
 defined by their own university. Many of the graduate attributes are introduced in
 first-year subjects and students then practise and enhance those skills in subjects and
 projects in the later years of their programs.
    The consultations undertaken for the Engineers for the Future project2 found
that industry supports this explicit focus on graduate attributes. It also reported on
engineering-specific graduate outcomes and attributes. They formed the view from
 their consultations that ‘engineers do their work by having knowledge and skills in varying
 combinations of the following thematic areas: the engineering life-cycle of concept, design,
 implementation, operation, maintenance and retirement (with increasing emphasis on
 uncertainty and risk assessment as well as systems thinking, and integrating ideas and tech
 nologies); managing complex engineering projects; mathematical modelling; and scientific
 knowledge of established and emerging areas.’2
    This book is designed to provide first-year engineering students with a solid
 grounding in many of these engineering and generic graduate attributes, as well as
 many of the tools and techniques that facilitate the application of those skills in real
 engineering work and study. The book may be used as the text for one course, or as a
 resource for two or more courses.
    Numerous historic and contemporary Australian, New Zealand and international
 examples are used to illustrate the principles that are discussed in the text, and to high-
 light many of the important innovations that have built the reputation of Australian
 and New Zealand engineers. The examples are drawn from a range of current engin
 eering disciplines, from emerging disciplines, and from a range of organisations and
 projects, large and small. These examples will enable students to explore engineering
 and how it is practised in Australasia, as well as the approaches used by Australasian
 engineers, who have a reputation for being flexible and adaptive.1 The Australasian
 focus and context of the text will also assist students to formulate their future career
 preferences.
    The chapters are arranged in six sections to facilitate student learning. The first sec-
 tion provides an introduction to engineering and the engineering method. This is fol-
 lowed by a section on engineering in society, which includes sustainable engineering,
                                                                                                P R E FACE   x x i
                    professional responsibility and ethics. This is followed by two sections that provide
                    students with the opportunity to acquire some of the key skills they will need to be
                    successful in their first year at university, such as self-management, teamwork and com-
                    munication. The fifth section provides an overview of each of the steps engineers use
                    when they apply the engineering method: information and research skills, design, evalu
                    ating solutions, reviewing project outcomes, communication outcomes, and managing
                    engineering projects. The final chapter provides information about the engineering pro-
                    fession, as well as existing and emerging specialisations — information that will help
                    students to refine their career choices.
                       The authors wish to thank the engineering academics who provided feedback on
                    the first and second editions of this text. Their comments helped to shape the content
                    and the structure of the third edition, as well as the focus and content of individual
                    chapters.
                       The support for the first two editions of this book, as well as what it is achieving for
                    undergraduate engineering education in Australia and New Zealand, means a lot to us.
                    In many ways, this book and its accompanying extensive resource package should be
                    seen as a resource generated for all engineering schools in Australia and New Zealand.
                    The authors would therefore welcome constructive feedback from academic staff and
                    students so that future editions of the book continue to meet the needs of first-year
                    engineering students. This includes information about innovative engineering projects
                    that may be suitable for inclusion in future editions of the book.
                       Many people have contributed information that was incorporated directly into
                    the body of the text, or in one of the many practical engineering ‘Spotlight’ features.
                    The authors acknowledge the important contribution of the following people to the
                    development of this text: Armando Apan, Mahfuz Aziz, Ken Bracher, Yvonne Bowles,
                    Lyn Brodie, Gunilla Burrowes, Peter Butcher, Ross Butler, Ian Cameron, Tristram
                    Carfrae, Sandra Cochrane, Susan Conrad, Michael Dermansky, Cheryl Desha, Shey
                    Dimon, Kristian Downing, Peter Fagan, Tim Gale, Peter Gibbings, Nicole Hahn,
                    Charlie Hargroves, Kate Hartley, Andrew Hoey, Prue Howard, Dan James, Kristy
                    Jay-Baker, Tom Joyce, Brett Kensett-Smith, Peter Knights, Ilsa Kuiper, Nelson Lam,
                    Julia Lamborn, Michelle Lauder, Ron Litjens, Darren Lomman, Nicole Lubach, David
                    McAloney, Sean McCluskey, Sally Male, Julie Mills, Steve Mogridge, Traci Nathans-
                    Kelly, Christine Grohowski Nicometo, Sharon Nightingale, Timothy Pfeiffer, Matthew
                    Preston, Carl Reidsema, Philip Rubie, David Russell, John Russell, Graham Scott,
                    Warren Sharpe, Lori Sowa, Geoff Spinks, Clive Stack, Peter Stasinopoulos, Alistair
                    Taylor and Helen Williams.
                       We would also like to thank the team at John Wiley & Sons for their assistance in
                    the development of this textbook and its associated resources:
                    ■■   Terry Burkitt (Publishing Manager)
                    ■■   Kylie Challenor (Managing Content Editor)
                    ■■   Beth Klan (Project Editor)
                    ■■   Jess Ni Chuinn (Content Editor)
x x i i   PREFACE
■■   Tara Seeto (Senior Publishing Assistant)
■■   Delia Sala (Graphic Designer)
■■   Jess Carr and Renee Bryon (Copyright and Image Researchers)
■■   Tony Dwyer (Production Controller)
■■   Rebecca Cam (Digital Content Editor).
   We would also like to acknowledge the members of our families who have lived the
highs and lows of this project with us, some for the third time. We know the many
sacrifices you made to help us meet the tight deadlines that accompany a project of this
nature.
1
    hanging the Culture: Engineering Education into the Future, Report Summary, Institution of Engineers,
   C
   Australia, 1996, p. 4.
2 Engineers for the Future: addressing the supply and quality of Australian engineering graduates for the
   21st century, Australian Council of Engineering Deans, 2008, p. 61. This project was funded by the
   Australian Learning and Teaching Council.
                                                                                                             P R E FAC E   x x i i i
Another Random Scribd Document
     with Unrelated Content
In Bulletin 513 of the Biological Survey occurs this description of the
white-crown: “This beautiful sparrow is much more numerous in the
western than in the eastern States, where indeed it is rather rare. In
the East it is shy and retiring, but it is much bolder and more 157
conspicuous in the far West and often frequents gardens and
parks. Like most of its family it is a seed-eater by preference, and
insects comprise very little more than 7 per cent. of its diet.
Caterpillars are the largest item, with some beetles, a few ants and
wasps, and some bugs, among which are black olive scales. The
great bulk of food, however, consists of weed seeds, which amount
to 74 per cent. of the whole. In California this bird is accused of
eating the buds and blossoms of fruit trees, but buds or blossoms
were found in only 30 out of 516 stomachs, and probably it is only
under exceptional circumstances that it does any damage in this
way. Evidently neither the farmer nor the fruit-grower has much to
fear from the white-crowned sparrow. The little fruit it eats is mostly
wild, and the grain eaten is waste.”
                                                                  158
                    THE PURPLE FINCH
                 Finch Family—Fringillidæ
None of our smaller finches, except the goldfinch and indigo 159
bunting are more beautiful in color than the PURPLE FINCH
which wears a Tyrian purple, rather than the shade we commonly
know.
Few members of the family sing more sweetly and joyously than this
songster of the treetops. His delightful warble resembles somewhat
the song of the rose-breasted grosbeak, and attracts attention
wherever the bird is to be found. Several purple finches singing from
neighboring elm trees at once, makes a May or June concert not
easily excelled. Mr. Forbush says: “The song of the male is a sudden,
joyous burst of melody, vigorous, but clear and pure, which no mere
words can do justice. When, filled with ecstasy, he mounts in air and
hangs with fluttering wings above the trees where sits the one who
holds his affections, his efforts far transcend his ordinary tones, and
a continuous melody flows forth, until, exhausted with his vocal
efforts, he sinks to the level of his spouse in the treetop. This is a
musical species, for some females sing, though not so well as the
          [89]
males.”
The bird has been accused of eating the buds of fruit and shade
trees, especially elms, and while he is at times guilty, he is not
condemned by those who know his food-habits best, but
commended for his fondness for weed seeds, especially ragweed,
and for destroying plant-lice, cankerworms, cutworms, and ground
           [89]
beetles.
         161
         THE TOWHEE OR CHEWINK
  CALLED ALSO GROUND ROBIN AND CHAREE
          Finch Family—Fringillidæ
Length: About 8½ inches; smaller than the robin and larger than
       the oriole.
Male: Head, back, throat, and breast, a glossy black; wings black,
       outer feathers edged with white; tail black, outer edge of
       outer feather white; three other feathers partly white,
       decreasing in size toward middle of tail; belly white; eyes
       dark red.
Before the trees are in leaf, there appears in our April woods a lively,
trim, and attractive bird who makes himself known in no uncertain
manner. So bustling and energetic is he, so cheerful and self-
confident, without unpleasant aggressiveness, that he always
attracts attention. The uninitiated frequently call him an oriole,
whom he does resemble in having a glossy black head, throat, back,
and tail, and white markings on his wings, with reddish-brown like
that of the orchard oriole on his sides; but there the resemblance
ceases, for the oriole has in addition a reddish-brown breast, belly,
and rump. Then, too, the towhee arrives early, before larvæ have
hatched; the oriole arrives in May, when swarms of insects have
begun their work of fertilizing blossoms of fruit trees.
                                                                  165
DESCRIPTIONS AND BIOGRAPHIES
             OF
   OUR LATER SPRING BIRDS
          PART FOUR
                               167
                  LATER SPRING BIRDS
Spring comes with a rush in some parts of our country and remains
but a short time, so closely does Summer follow in her footsteps. But
in New England, New York, northern Pennsylvania, Ohio, and
neighboring states, her approach is more gradual and restrained.
When maple and red-bud have laid aside their corals and fruit-trees
have donned their robes of white and shell-pink; when the woods
show again a flush of tender green, Spring arrives. She has long
been heralded by early choristers; she is now accompanied by a host
more wonderful than retinue of kings, so varied is their dress and so
sweet their triumphal music. Grove and orchard are alive with
happy-hearted birds, who help to make May the loveliest month of
the year.
First come the swallows, skimming over pools and circling above
meadows—embodiment of grace, gladdening the world with their
joyous twitterings. Swifts, nighthawks, and whip-poor-wills make
nightfall vocal. Little house wrens, each a fountain of bubbling
music, take up their abode near our homes.
Cuckoos slip quietly from tree to tree; thrashers and catbirds seek
thickets or perch on treetops, to sing like their celebrated cousins,
the mockingbirds. Shy ovenbirds and lustrous-eyed thrushes return
to live in the woods, or pass through them as they journey to their
northern homes. The advent of the tanager in his flashing scarlet,
and the grosbeak with his glowing rose bring to every bird- 168
lover “a most pointed pleasure.” With Stevenson he may say,
[They] “stab my spirit broad awake.”
Vireos and wood pewees appear in the groves; warblers flit from
treetop to treetop, many of them on their way to northern woods.
Orioles in the elms and orchards shout with joy; bobolinks bubble
and tinkle in the meadows; indigo buntings and kingbirds greet us
from roadsides, and Maryland yellow-throats from thickets.
Goldfinches hold their May festival, and choose their mates as they
sing with joyous abandon. The earth is fresh and beautiful, with
promise of a glad fulfillment near at hand.
TREE SWALLOW
                               169
Habitat: Tree swallows are seen along roadsides, and near swamps
        and thickets. They formerly nested in dead trees, in
        woodpeckers’ holes, or any available hollow. They now take
        kindly to nesting-boxes. They have “roosts” at night where
        they resort in great numbers, especially on their way south
         in the late summer. They have a great fondness for
         telegraph-wires. During the fall migration, long chains of
         these swallows are festooned on the wires during the
         daytime. At night they disappear to their roosts, preferably
         near marshes. They are a sight to be remembered 170
         in the Jersey marshes, which Mr. Horsfall’s
         accompanying drawing depicts.
Swallows have always been regarded with favor. They were formerly
considered a good omen, and were thought to bring fair weather
and prosperity. I shall always remember the welcoming swallow that
met our ship near the Scilly Islands one June day, and preceded us
without resting for long hours as we voyaged close to the shore of
England. It seemed to presage the good fortune that followed us.
Swallows fly with their broad beaks ready to open, and catch unwary
insects with great ease. They rise early and continue their ceaseless
quest for small beetles, flies, mosquitoes, and other insects.
Professor Beal says: “Most of these are either injurious or annoying,
and the numbers destroyed by swallows are not only beyond
                                            [92]
calculation but almost beyond imagination.”      He pleads for 171
the protection of all swallows and suggests that the “white-
bellied swallows” be supplied with boxes similar to those constructed
for bluebirds, only placed at a greater elevation and protected from
cats.
Tree swallows are the first to come and first to go. Before the
summer has really arrived, as early as July first, they begin to flock
and form great colonies that may be seen migrating during the
daytime.
                                                                 172
               THE BARN SWALLOW
            Swallow Family—Hirundinidæ
Flight: Long, sweeping curves that are beautiful to see. The bird
         shows first his blue back, then his soft brown breast. He
         flies nearer the ground than other swallows, and surpasses
         them all in his power of flight. Imagine the number of miles
         he travels in a day!
Habitat: Fields and farm-lands; also the vicinity of ponds or other
        breeding-places of insects. The nest of mud is usually
        fastened to a rafter of a barn. These swallows often nest in
        colonies.
Most beautiful of all the swallows is this bluebird fleet of the 173
summer time. It is associated in my mind with shining pools
rimmed with iris; with fragrant lilac-bushes, blossoming apple-trees,
and waving fields of grain near farm-buildings. Its sweet voice and
marvelous flight bring poetry into the prosaic life of the farm.
ebooksecure.com