334 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



Feeding Stations for Game Birds. 



The lean-to shelter and feeding sta- 

 tion here illustrated is a practical type 

 of station for pheasants, grouse and 

 quail, and a number of such have been 

 constructed throughout the reserva- 

 tions by the Metropolitan Park Com- 

 mission in Massachusetts, — the one pic- 

 tured here being in the Blue Hills res- 

 ervation. 



Such a shelter is simple and easily 

 constructed. It is about four feet high 

 and five or six feet wide. After driving 

 two upright forked sticks or poles into 



ground is thickly covered with snow, 

 though if well fed they will be able to 

 withstand almost any weather con- 

 ditions. It has been very gratifying to 

 note that many of these birds have 

 been saved, which would otherwise 

 doubtless have perished, by putting out 

 food for them in suburban localities. 

 The handsome ring-necked pheasants 

 are easily tolled to the edges of the 

 woods and reservations and will come 

 regularly into yards near such places, 

 where grain is supplied for them. One 

 party whom we know has from a dozen 



I'.lRl) SHELTER AND FEEDING STATION. 



the ground the required distance apart, 

 a pole is laid across the top, supported 

 in the crotches of the uprights. Long- 

 er poles for the roof are then laid in a 

 slanting manner from the ground 

 against this ridge-pole, and the closer 

 these are laid together, the tighter will 

 be the roof. It remains only to thatch 

 the roof and sides with pine boughs, or 

 other branches, in such a manner as to 

 keep out snow and give a reasonablv 

 dry shelter from storms, where food 

 placed within will be kept in good con- 

 dition. The open part of such a shelter 

 should, of course, face in the direction 

 which is least exposed to storms. 



Food is more essential than shelter 

 during severe winter weather, as the 

 ground-feeding birds often have diffi- 

 culty in finding the former when the 



to two dozen of these fine birds come 

 to feed under his window every morn- 

 ing, where they are sure to find a plen- 

 tiful supply of corn. Bevies of cjuail, 

 and rufifed grouse, have also been re- 

 ]:)orted under similar conditions, some- 

 times coming even into the dooryards 

 for food. If we make these birds our 

 friends they will come more than half 

 wav to meet us. 



Bird Clubs of any nature are ipvited 

 to affiliate themselves with The Agas-iz 

 Association, and by thus cooperating 

 may find it greatly to their advantage, 

 as many things may thus be accom- 

 ])lished, not only in bird protection, 

 but in general bird study as well, that 

 would not be possible with the individ- 

 ual society. 



