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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



Our Native Birds' Protectorate 



Under the Direction of the Committees on Bird Preservation and Propagation. 



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



American Association of Park Superintendents, Herm ann Merkel, New York, Chairman. 



PROTECTING BIRDS IN PUBLIC PARKS. 



Bv J. S. Imjster,* Illinois. 



Some years ago an exceedingly well informed gen- 

 tleman, whose name I do not recall at this time, was 

 touring the country as a representative of Miss Anna 

 Gould in her effort to increase people's interest in 

 birds. He visited us and gave us valuable informa- 

 tion in thf matter of attracting and caring for birds 

 in the puljiic parks. We followed his suggestions and 

 advice as far as possible, feeding and providing nest- 

 ing boxes for various kinds of birds, and can say that it 

 is surprising how many varieties of birds can be lo- 

 cated by nature lovers in some of the parks. 



From time to time other naturalists and bird lovers 

 have given us valuable suggestions on this subject; 

 among these may be mentioned Mr. J. R. Griffith and 

 Jack Fulton, Jr.. both of whom are well posted and 

 very enthusiastic advocates for the protection of wild 

 birds. The latter found 114 dift'erent kinds of birds 

 or water-fowl in Jackson Park between March 1 and 

 May 20 in 1914. A list of these is given further on 

 in this letter. 



At various places throughout the jiark system signs 

 have been posted requesting the public to co-operate 

 with the South Park commissioners by not molesting 

 the birds. Food is supplied to the birds during the Fall, 

 \\'inter and earlv Si)ring. This consists of a mixture 

 ♦ of various kinds of seeds, including in some cases also 

 ground lareak and meat. The mixture is made up of 

 the following: 



Hemp seed 200 lbs. 



Millet seed 100 |' 



Sunflower seed 100 



Mixed chicken feed 200 " 



Oats ■+ l)ushels. 



In the larger parks where the mixture is fed rapidly 

 en(.)Ugh to prevent the ground meat from spoiling, the 

 following articles are added to the above mixture : 



Ground beef 20 lbs. 



Ground beef suet 10 



Ground stale bread 6 loaves. 



At various ])laces in the shrulibery in Washington 

 and Jackson parks feeding platforms elevated aljout 

 six feet above the ground on single iron pipe standards, 

 and covered by thatched roofs, are located, on which 

 the feeding mixture is placed daily during the seasons 

 previously mentioned. The feed is also scattered in 

 sheltered places on the ground, where it is readily 

 found by the birds. 



Quite a number of small suet "cages," each holding 

 several pounds of ground suet and made to fit around 

 the trunks of trees, have within the last year or two 

 been hung here and there in the two larger parks 

 in an eft'ort to hold over Winter the kinds of Ijirds 

 which relish that food. 



In earlv Spring, nesting material, mostly in the 

 form of loose waste, is hung at different places in the 

 shrubbery, where the birds are apt to find it easily. 



*Mr. Foster is Gener.il Superintendent of tlie Park Systems under the 

 Soiitli Park Commissioners, Chicago, III. 



Several sizes of bird boxes have been placed in trees 

 of different parks, and the shelter afforded by them 

 has undoubtedly C(_intril5uted towards inducing the 

 birds to make their homes there. In addition to these, 

 ijiartin-houses, providing for several hvmdred birds, 

 are placed on the tops of tall posts in Washington and 

 Jackson parks, and ever}' year colonies of martins take 

 up their residence in them. These martin-houses are 

 closed in the Fall after the martins leave so as to 

 prevent the sparrows from taking possession of them. 

 Just before it is time for the martins to arrive in the 

 spring all of the houses are opened again. The posts 

 supporting the martin-houses are covered a part of 

 their length with tin to prevent cats or squirrels from 

 climbing them. 



As man}- varieties of birds are quite shy and rarely 

 come out from their retreats in the shrubbery, the 

 general public is undoubtedly not aware of their pres- 

 ence, and they are seen as a rule only by those close 

 observers who delight in seeking them. The Wooded 

 Island in Jackson Park, surrounded as it is on all sides 

 by water and with plenty of shrubbery and trees 

 seems to be a favorite resort for the birds. It was on 

 this island that Jack Fulton, Jr., found most of the 

 birds in his list, which follows. This covers only such 

 varieties as he found up to May 20th, and all were 

 seen in Jackson Park. 



Kiiiil of I'.iid. Found at. Date seen. 



Beltecl kingfislier Wooded island. March 26 



Haii\' woodpecker Wooded island. Jlarch 2 



N. downy woodpecker Wooded island. March 



Yellnw-liellied sapsncker ^outli edpc of park. April 4 



Red-headed woodpecker Wooded island. April 2.5 



Flicker Wooded island. April 6 



\\'hip-poor-will Wooded island. April 24 



Kingbird ^^■ooded island. A])ril 27 



Crested flycatcher Wooded island. May 20 



Phoebe 18-liole golf course. March ,30 



(.)live-sided ilycatclier Wooded island May 20 



Wood pewee Wnoiled island. April 27 



Least tlycatcher Woo.lcd island. April 20 



Yellow-billed cuckoo , \\ oodc<l island. 



l^Iue jay ... Wooded island. March 1 



CVow Inner liarbor. 



C'owbird Wooded island. March 28 



Red-winged blackbird Swam]i. March 31 



Meadow lark \round park. 



Baltimore oriole . ..Swamp. April 27 



Rusty blackbird . '■'wamp. March 2.5 



Rronzed grackle . . Wooded island. March 14 



Purjile tinch Peninsula. April 13 



(iold tini-li Wooded island. 



Pine finch \^'ooded island. Jlay 20 



\'esper sparrow Around park. April 14 



White-crowned sparrow Wooded island. Slay 4 



White-throated sparrow Wooded island. April 15 



Tree sparrow Swamp. March 14 



t'liipping sparrow Around park. April 12 



Field sparrow Around park. April 18 



Slate-colored junco Swamp. March 14 



Song sparrow Around park. March 8 



Swamp sparrow Swani]). 



Fox sparrow Around park. March 28 



Towhee Swamp. March 28 



Rose-breasted grosbeak Wooden island. April 28 



Scarlet tanager Wooded island. May 4 



Purple martin Around park. April 21 



Barn swallow .\ronnd park. April 25 



Tree swallow .^rotuid jiark. April 16 



Bank swallow .ground park. April 24 



Cedar wa.xwing Wooded island. May 17 



