BOYS MAKE BIRD HOUSES 



BIRD houses that arc not only 

 an artistic addition to any 

 estate but are a positive entice- 

 ment to birds, and an inspira- 

 tion for bird lovers, are now being made 

 by the boys of Allendale Farm. They 

 are suitable for all the birds which one 

 might desire as friends and neighbors in 

 either city or country, and when they 

 are erected in the proper environment 

 the}^ are not long unoccupied. The 

 making of these houses is a labor of lovv 

 for the Allendale boys, because on their 

 beautiful, well kept farm at Lake \'illa, 

 Illinois, they quickly become nature 

 lovers and acquire a knowledge of the 

 value of birds and the joy of their 

 cheering companionship which many 

 another boy might envy. 



The bird houses are sold and an 

 attractive little circular tells what they 

 are and how much they cost, as well as 

 showing sketches of the different models, 

 and it is worth noting that lovers of 

 birds have become purchasers of many 

 of these dainty little structures. 



There are the Martin houses which 

 should be, we are told, placed on a clean 

 pole sixteen or eighteen feet from the 

 ground, in the sunlight away from the 

 shade of the trees, and there is added 

 the note, with the comfort of the birds 

 in mind, that the closed side of the 

 houses should face the north so that the 

 birds may be protected from the cold 

 north winds. These houses cost from 

 three to twenty-five dollars. 



Then there are the houses for the 

 dainty little wrens. These houses 

 should be placed not more than eight 

 or ten feet from the ground and may be 

 located close to a residence. They 

 should face east ; there will be no danger 

 of the wren oversleeping himself with 

 the early morning light shining full in 

 his little doorway, and the wrens like 

 these houses best when they are in close 

 to a bush or a tree. These houses cost 

 only a dollar and a quarter, for they are 

 small and simple. There is also the blue- 

 bird house and this costs the same as the 

 residence of the wren. It mav be 



hooked to a tree or placed upon a 

 twelve foot pole in the open or among 

 the fruit trees. 



The Allendale boys also make attrac- 

 tive food shelters, a box-shaped affair 

 with open sides and a sloping roof. 

 These are mounted on stumps, the food 



.•\n .A.li.kndai.k Boy wiiii a Bird House he Has Made. 



is placed on the floor and the roof pro- 

 tects it from the weather. These fooi 

 shelters are s]jecdily discovered by thi 

 birds and if the right kind of food is 

 placed in them the birds flock to them 

 and soon make their homes in the 

 vicinity. There is also a robin shelf 

 which is another type of food shelter 

 and artistic as are the others. 



Now, Allendale is a colony or farni 

 for homeless and neglected boys where 

 they are protected, reared and educated. 

 It is supported by voluntary contribu- 

 tions and the boys are sent there by 

 men and women who are interested in 

 the Association, the official name of 



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