THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



365 



Our Native Birds' Protectorate 



Under the Direction of the Committees on Bird Protection. 



National Association of Gardeners, L. H. Jensen, St. Louis, Mo., Chairman. 



American Association of Park Superintendents, Herman Merkel, New York, Chairman. 



APPLIANCES FOR ENCOURAGING THE RE- 

 TURN OF THE BIRDS. 



Now that tlie great battle lia> lieeii fought and wun tor 

 the legal protection of our smaller birds — known collec- 

 tively as song birds, although manv do not sing — the 

 question arises as to how best to help them to regain an 

 approximation of their former abundance. Examination 

 of the conditirms brings to ligiit the fact that actual i)er- 

 secution at the hand of man has not been the onl_\- cause 

 of the diminution of birds. This direct method has 

 been complemented by a far more insidious means, and 

 one which cannot be so easily combatted. 



When the colonization of .America commenced, it is 

 easy to imagine that some stimulus ma)' have been given 

 to certain small birds — more especially those which 

 habitually nested in hollow trees, and excavations in dead 

 stumps. The clearing of ground, which left many stubs, 

 and the establishment of orchards, meant a great multi- 

 plication of nesting sites and an increase of feeding 

 grounds for those species which preferred open country. 

 But with the density of population constantls' increasing, 

 more care was devoted to the conservation of forests, 

 and today the application of modern forestry methods 

 has so trimmed the branches of the old orchards, and 

 so carefully removed all dead or decayed forest trees, 

 and insect-harboring undergrowth, that manv of our 

 useful birds are hard pressed indeed to find a cranny in 

 which to deposit their eggs, or cover in wliich to search 

 for food. 



The red-headed woodpecker, once common about .Vew 

 York, is now rarely seen, and for the first time in many 

 years, a pair is nesting this spring in the Zoological Park. 

 European starlings and sparrows occupy the few remain- 

 ing holes suitable for the nests of bluel:>ii"(ls and, except- 

 ing during the migration period, the querulous notes of 

 this beautiful songster are wanting from our parks and 

 suburbs. 



Since it is evident that this condition has been brought 

 about directly by us. it is equally obvious that it rests 

 with us to remedy it as far as lies within our ability. 

 Fortunately the means is at hand, and its application is 

 of direct and permanent value to many of the birds we 

 most desire to benefit. 



Suitable nesting boxes are a\ailal)le and can be substi- 

 tuted for the vanished dead limbs, and various devices 

 have been originated for holding food to hel]j the little 

 feathered winter visitors maintain themselves. Even 

 during the summer months, when food is more abund- 

 ant, a few birds will be found visiting the fnod de])Ots. 

 For the purpose of disseminating knowledge concerning 

 the use of such ap])aratus, the Zoological Society has 

 established an exhibit of these contrivances in the Park. 



About New York, the birds most likely to be attracted 

 to food depots are the following: Blue jay, downy 

 woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, flicker, nuthatch, brown 

 creeper, chickadee, white-throat sparrow, song sparrow, 

 tree sparrow, junko, sistine, purple finch and possibly 

 the cardinal and tufted titmouse. \Vood[)eckers and luit- 



*By Lee S. Crandall. Assistant Cxiiator of Birds. Zoological Garden. New 

 York, in Zoological Rnlletin. 



hatches will visit the suet chiefly, blue jays will eat al- 

 most an\ thing, l-'or the finches, a mixture of various 

 seeds should be provided — sunflower, hemp, canary and 

 millet are among the best, although any nourishing, as- 

 similable grain will do. Hits of dry bread and nut meats 

 are relished by iii;m\ liirds. 



There can be no duuhl that suitably placed bird 

 bouses are a very potent factor in the encouragement of 

 birds. If the locality is at all favorable, and a little 

 thought be given to construction and esi)eciall\- to loca- 

 tion, it will be found that birds will take |)Ossession of 

 them. It is a strange fact that while birds will frequently 

 ignore elaborate structures, they often will unhesitat- 

 tngly occiq:)y the most unpromising cavities. Empty 

 cans, old hats, and the roughest of boxes, seem to offer 

 all that the home-seeking bird desires. Hence, it follows 

 that any hoy can build suitable bird boxes for himself 

 that are as likel_\- to be found acce|)table as any others. 

 Those who lack the time or ingenuity for this work, will 

 find the market well supplied bv a number of manufac- 

 turers. 



( )f single nest-boxes for small birds, there is great 

 diversity of style, but after all there are but two main 

 types — the hollowed natural log and the artificial house 

 of boards. These logs certainly offer the closest ap- 

 proximation to natural nestin.g sites that can be j^roduced, 

 and birds take to them with confidence. It has been 

 found, however, that in many cases artificial houses have 

 liroved even more satisfactory. 



The birds which are likely to occupy houses in the 

 vicinity of Xew York are the following : Bluebird, 

 crested flycatcher, purple martin, tree swallow, chickadee, 

 flicker, house wren, starling, European sparrow, spar- 

 row hawk, screech owl and possibly also the nuthatch, 

 Carolina wren, tufted titmouse and downy woodpecker. 

 Robins and phoebes will nest on 0])en shelves, which can 

 be provided with a rim to hold the nest and a simple 

 roof for shelter. Starlings and sparrows, unfortunately, 

 nest in holes, and their pugnacious dis])ositions are too 

 much for the smaller native birds. The bluebird can be 

 protected from the starling by making the entrance holes 

 one and one-half inches in diameter, which is too small 

 for the latter. It will not, however, exclude the sparrow. 

 Martins like entrance holes at least two inches in dia- 

 nx^ter, but can squeeze through one and one-half if they 

 will. Chickadees and wrens are protected by holes 

 seven-ei.ghths to one and one-eighth in diameter. 



Some discrimination must be exercised in ])lacing 

 boxes according to the habits of the birds that they are 

 expected to attract. Illuebirds are most likely to nest in 

 an orchard, or rough pasture, although they will often 

 come close to houses. This applies also to flickers. 

 crested Ihcatchers and chickadees. Wrens will nest in 

 boxes attached to buildings, or placed on poles nearby. 

 Tree swallows will occupy bo.xes a few feet above the 

 ground, on poles, especially where it is marshy, and mar- 

 tinhouses should always be entirely in the open, well 

 awav from trees. In general, boxes should be placed 

 from six to twent\- feet from the .ground, and those on 

 poles or in isolated trees are more likely to be occui)ied 

 than those situated in thick woods. 



