Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 559 



migration from adjoining territories. Every effort, therefore, 

 should be made to augment the number of our useful birds by pro- 

 tecting them from their enemies, by providing nesting facilities, 

 and by furnishing them food in times of stress, especially in 

 winter. 



"Important in this connection is the planting near the house 

 and even in out-of-the-way places on the farm of various berry- 

 bearing shrubs, many of which are ornamental, which will supply 

 food when snow is on the ground. Other species which are not 

 berry eaters, like the woodpeckers, nuthatches, creepers and chick- 

 adees, can be made winter residents of many farms, even, in the 

 north, by putting out at convenient places a supply of suet, of which 

 they and many other birds are very fond, even in summer. Hedges 

 and thickets about the farm are important to furnish nesting sites 

 and shelter both from the elements and the numerous enemies 

 of birds. 



"Few are aware of the difficulty often experienced by birds in 

 obtaining water for drinking and bathing, and a constant supply of 

 water near the farmhouse will materially aid in attracting birds 

 to the neighborhood and in keeping them there, at least till the time 

 of migration. Shallow trays of wood or metal admirably serve 

 the purpose, especially as birds delight to bathe in them. 



"Considerable success has been met with in Germany and else- 

 where in Europe by supplying artificial nest boxes for birds, and 

 the same method of increasing the number of birds and attracting 

 them to farms and orchards where their services are most needed 

 should be extensively employed in this country. The experiment 

 can the more easily be tried since several firms in the United States 

 are now prepared to make and deliver boxes specially designed for 

 martins, swallows, bluebirds, wrens woodpeckers and other species. 

 The average farmer's boy, however, if provided with a few tools, 

 is quite equal to the task of making acceptable boxes for the com- 

 moner species, which are far from fastidious as to the appearance 

 of the box intended for their occupancy. 



"One of the worst foes of our native birds is the house cat, 

 and probably none of our native wild animals destroy as many 

 birds on the farm, particularly fledglings, as cats. The household 

 cat is by no means blameless in this respect, for the bird-hunting 

 instinct is strong even, in the best-fed tabby ; but much of the loss 

 of our feathered life is attributed to the half -starved stray, which 

 in summer is as much at home in the groves and fields as the birds 

 themselves. Forced to forage for their own livelihood, these ani- 



