234 Wild Bird Guests 



We have already spoken of the planting of ever- 

 greens as shelter, and such local protection is 

 valuable as far as it goes. We have also spoken 

 of the feeding of birds in winter and after late 

 spring storms. 



Floods caused by heavy rains and which result 

 in the destruction of nests upon the ground within 

 the flooded area, might, it would seem, be pre- 

 vented in many cases by a simple drain which 

 would carry off the surplus water. 



Waterfalls 



Speaking of the swans which went over 

 Niagara Falls in 1908, Mr. James Savage, in a 

 report to the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, 

 concludes: "While the killing of the wounded 

 swans at the ice bridge ... in a certain light 

 might be regarded as an act of mercy inasmuch 

 as without human interference most of the birds 

 would probably have perished from their injuries 

 or by starvation, yet it is greatly to be regretted 

 that as many of the birds as possible were not 

 taken alive and given an opportunity to recover. 

 I believe that fully one-third of the 116 swans 

 taken would have survived if given the proper 

 care. But the impulse to kill was stronger than 

 the spirit to save, and not even a pair of these 



