Common Birds on the Farm. 



289 



nesting places. jMucIi food may be provided about a farm by simply letting 

 Nature have her own way to a degree. Do not cut down all the wild 

 cherry trees; leave a few for the birds. Let some blackberries grow 

 here and there. If a haw or sumac is growing near the house do not 

 remove it. Plant a few sunflowers in the comer of the garden or along 

 the edge of the field; they will take up little space and yield abundant 

 food for the chickadee, goldfinch, titmouse, nuthatch and cardinal. In 

 winter a little beef or sheep fat tied to the limb of a tree will be deeply 



ONE OF THE FARMERS' BEST FRIENDS. (See page 270.) 



appreciated by the Downy Woodpecker and Titmouse. A little broken 

 refuse grain and chaff in winter will likewise furnish comfort to the 

 snowbirds and various native sparrows, if it is thrown out where they 

 can get it. 



Birds do not care to remain long about a house if there is grave 

 danger from enemies. The most terrible of all destructive agencies to 

 the average farmland bird is the domestic cat. This creature pounces 



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