NESTING HOUSES FOR THE BIRDS 



By G. H. TRAFTON, Supervisor of Nature-Study, Passaic, N. J. 



A line of successful bird work with children may be carried 

 on by encouraging bird protection from the positive side. The 

 children may be encouraged to do something for the birds by 

 providing them food, water or nesting sites. While this is one 



CHILDREN WITH BIRD HOUSES, FRANKLIN SCHOOL. PASSAIC, N. J. 



of the most effective means of protecting birds, of much great- 

 er importance, it is a means of developing in the child a spirit 

 of helpfulness and kindness toward living things through the 

 efforts he is making to help them. 



The most successful work in this line here at Passiac has 

 been done in connection with the providing of nesting boxes. 

 The enthusiasm of the children is easily aroused in the early 

 spring, even the children in the second grade displaying much 

 interest. The essential features to be considered in construct- 

 ing a bird house are explained and the chief difficulties to be 

 encountered are mentioned that the children may be prepared 

 -for them. The children are then allowed to use their own in- 

 genuity in working out the details. No attempt is made here 



