38 L. VITÁNYI — EXPERIMENTS ON BIRDPROTECTION 



Extract from the article about 



„Experiments and observations on Bird- 

 protection". 



BY LÁSZLÓ Vitányi. 



As the Sparrows intrude also through the narrow opening of nest- 

 boxes prepared for Titmouses and are almost endangering the breeding 

 of useful hollowdwelling birds in Hungary, the author has made different 

 experiments to prevent this calamity. He found out, that the W r y n e c k 

 (Jynx torquilla L.) cannot intrude though the somewhat oval shaped, 

 only 30 X 32 mm. wide entrance of a box whereas the Titmouses can 

 use it quite well. The Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus L.) however 

 dare not use theese boxes with larger entrance prepared for Wrynecks, 

 though the Sparrow might intrude also there (Tree Sparrows cannot). 

 The Blue Titmouse (Parus caeruleus h.) and Marsh Titmouse 

 (Parus imlustris h.) can easily slip in to a box with an entrance wide 

 20*5X34 mm, whereas the Great Titmouse (Parus major L./ 

 cannot. The author used for the last mentioned boxes 28 mm in 

 diameter, with round holes for an entrance, which he placed near the 

 house. Into theese only the Tree Sparrows could just but slip, but 

 only without any nestmaterial, because he could'nt gather in the straw- 

 halms, which would stick to the edge of the hole. Through narrowing 

 the entrance of the nest, which was obtained by attaching a little board 

 of wood with a mixture of clay and glue and nailing it afterwards to 

 the moulding the nest-hole being of 20*5 X 34 mm in width, the author 

 could protect also the nests of the House Martin (Delichon urhica L.) 

 against the intrusion of Tree Sparrow s, and made it possible that 

 in winter only the Titmouses could use them as a refuge over night. 

 He applied also a more narrow opening to the feeding-box, 

 further bars over the food in a distance of 20'5 — 23 mm so that only 

 the Titmouses could reach it. 



