How to Make and Erect Bird-Houses 



By HUBERT PRESCOTT. Ashland, Ore. 



PEOPLE are beginning to understand more clearly the relationship of 

 birds to mankind, and, as a result, they are putting forth greater effort 

 toward the protection and preservation of bird-life. 



One good method of bird preservation is the building of bird-houses, and, as 

 far as individual effort is concerned, a good deal of it has been directed in this 

 line. Some have met with success and some with failure, the reason for the 

 failures being that a very large percentage of the bird-houses built are worthless 

 because they are wrongly constructed. 



It is well that we should put up houses for the birds, but first we must under- 

 stand a little of bird nature so that we may better know what kind of houses 

 are suitable. 



Originally, birds which nested in cavities either used cavities in trees caused 

 by rotting of the heart of the tree, or they made their own nest cavities or used 

 those made by other birds or animals. 



The Woodpecker is, perhaps, the best example of a bird which digs its own 

 nest cavity. If we will observe we will find that the holes made by Woodpeckers 

 for nesting purposes are generally facing the east or south, and, if in a hori- 

 zontal or slanting limb, they will always be on the underside. 



Facing the east or south they are less exposed to storms than they would be 

 if they were facing the north. They are on the underside of a limb for the same 

 purpose, and also as a protection against animals or other birds, being then 

 difficult of access and out of view. On observation we will find that the bottom, 

 or floor, of the nest cavity of a Woodpecker is 6 inches or more below the 

 entrance-hole. This serves several purposes: It gives the bird room to sit 

 without blocking the entrance; it serves as a protection against enemies; and it 

 prevents the young from leaving the nest too soon. 



Thus, as a result of natural selection, birds have acquired the instinct to 

 build in nest cavities of this kind, and if we apply a few of these particulars in 

 building bird-houses, much better results will be obtained than we would get 

 otherwise. 



One of the greatest, yet most common mistakes is making bird-houses like 

 the houses of human beings, with the entrance on a level with the floor. 



Birds do not value things from the esthetic standpoint. They prefer an 

 old weather-worn bird-house to a highly painted one which shows skillful 

 workmanship. The kind of nesting-site they choose is of vital importance to 

 them, and they select it for the protection and service it affords. Bird-houses 

 can be made out of hollow trees, kegs, slabs, and boards of any kind. 



Another very common mistake is that of making the bird-houses or rooms 

 too large. For small birds which nest in solitary pairs, such as Wrens, Chicka- 

 dees, Bluebirds, etc., a room 4 inches wide by 5 inches long by 7 inches high 



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