FEEDING THE WINTER BIRDS 253 



times. Care should be taken, in the use of such foods 

 as decay or sour easily, to see that the spoiled food is 

 removed and a fresh supply provided; at times it 

 may be well to supply water. 



Methods of putting out food. Food may be put 

 out in a great variety of ways: (1) on the ground, 

 (2) on shelves, (3) fastened on limbs of trees, (4) 

 in suet baskets, (5) on old Christmas trees, (6) in 

 an automatic hopper, (7) in an Audubon food- 

 house, (8) in a weathercock food-house, (9) in a 

 window box, and (10) on a moving counter. 



On the ground. To supply seed-eating birds, a 

 bit of ground may be swept clear of the snow, or the 

 snow trampled down, and chaff, crumbs, and the 

 various kinds of grain and other seeds scattered 

 there. To this may come such birds as the sparrow, 

 junco, snow bunting, blue jay, and quail. This food 

 may be protected by means of boards placed over 

 it in the form of an "A." A large brush-heap, 

 covered well with evergreen boughs, with grain 

 thrown under it, does very well. 



Shelves. Various kinds of shelves may be used. 

 In its simplest form a shelf may consist of a board at- 

 tached to a tree, with a narrow strip around the edge 

 to prevent the food from being blown off. This may 

 be placed at first at a little distance till the birds 

 become accustomed to coming to it, and then brought 

 nearer to the house; or it may be placed on the top 

 of a short post. 



