Bird Lovers as Landlords 195 



Some birds, like house wrens, tree swallows, 

 bluebirds, and starlings are so eager for new 

 nesting sites, and so simple in their requirements, 

 that they will accept almost any nest box offered 

 to them — a common starch box, a flower pot, 

 even an old tomato can with a hole cut in the 

 end. But there is seldom any need to use such 

 crude devices as these, since anyone who has 

 access to a few boards, old or new, a saw, a 

 hammer, and some nails, can for a few cents 

 apiece make neat bird homes from such plans 

 as are given here, or as may be found in Farmers 9 

 Bulletin 609, which may be obtained from the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Wash- 

 ington, D. C. 



It is a matter of great importance that young 

 people especially, be encouraged to make houses 

 of this kind. It gives them an opportunity to 

 do active work for the birds; work of which 

 they will be likely to see the result, and thus be 

 encouraged to continue. But they should study 

 the requirements of the birds and not be led into 

 making houses which are simply odd or pretty. 

 There is no objection to having a pretty bird- 

 house if the essential features — the dimensions 

 of the room, the diameter of the entrance, etc., 

 are correct. There is no use in making houses 

 with more than one room, except for purple 



