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A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE 



DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS 



Official Organ of The Audubon Societies 



Vol. XVI September— October, 1914 No. 5 



Some Observations on Bird Protection in Germany 



By WILLIAM P. WHARTON 



With photographs by the Author 



IN August, 1913, the writer had the good fortune to make a brief visit to 

 the estate of Baron Hans von Berlepsch, at Seebach, district of Langen- 

 salza, Germany, and to observe something of the methods for attracting 

 and protecting wild birds employed with such wonderful success there. For a 

 full description of these methods, the reader is referred to the book entitled 

 'Methods of Attracting and Protecting Wild Birds,' which, in its English trans- 

 lation, is for sale by the National Association of Audubon Societies. 



Those familiar with that book are aware that the Baron's success rests 

 upon three cornerstones: (i) Large numbers of suitable nesting-sites both for 

 birds nesting in cavities and for those nesting in trees or shrubs; (2) an abun- 

 dant food- and water-supply; (3) protection from their enemies. To supply the 

 first, Baron von Berlepsch devised the nesting-box made by hollowing out 

 sections of tree limbs or trunks in as nearly as possible exact imitation of the 

 cavities excavated by Woodpeckers; boxes of this kind are now being manu- 

 factured by two or three different persons in the United States. The Baron 

 also devised, after much study and experimentation, a method of pruning 

 undergrowth and special plantations of shrubbery in such a manner as to pro- 

 duce 'whorls' of side branches at a given point, which, by subsequent pruning, 

 form a natural platform or crotch particularly suited for birds' nests to be 

 placed in. Food in the form of suet and various seeds is provided, in winter, at 

 various points on the estate, and is often placed in the shelter of the Hessian 

 food-house, very similar to the Audubon food-house now being sold in this 

 country. In summer, besides the natural supply of insects, which must be 

 large in the dense undergrowth and about the pond and brook, groups of shrubs 

 and trees, planted for that purpose, supply a rotation of berries and seeds 

 especially liked by birds. Owing to the presence of the pond, and the brook 

 running through the estate, artificial bird-baths are not much required. Pro- 

 tection from enemies requires constant vigilance in destroying the predatory 

 quadrupeds, such as weasels, squirrels, polecats and house cats, and such pred- 



