HOW TO ENCOURAGE BIRDS TO BREED 



It is unwise to nail boxes to timber trees, as the 

 nails in time become overgrown by the wood and 

 cause damage to saws and planing machinery. The 

 boxes in these instances may be fastened to flat boards 

 and screwed on to the trees. Another plan is to 

 attach them to poles or fasten them with wires in the 

 forks of branches. Nesting boxes should be covered 

 with bark. Failing this, they may be 

 stained or painted more or less the 

 colour of the tree trunk or what- 

 ever base they may happen to be 

 attached to. 



To puzzle bird enemies, such as 

 cats, squirrels, and snakes, nesting 

 boxes may be suspended from 

 branches with wire. 



If the situation and environment 

 of the nesting boxes are suitable, 



birds will SOOn take possession of Crocheted Ball filled 

 , -iiii Tx. £ ' u with raw cotton, 



them, provided the locality furnishes feathers> elc ? for 



a sufficiency of insect food. Water is lining nests. 



a necessity, and unless this is obtain- 

 able in the neighbourhood, drinking and bathing 

 receptacles should be provided. On many South 

 African farms the only water supply is from tanks, 

 and it cannot be expected that birds will build in such 

 an environment unless some provision is made for them 

 by constructing shallow bathing and drinking troughs 

 or basins. These can easily be made with concrete. 

 Another aid in inducing birds to rear their young 

 near a homestead is to provide nesting material, such 

 vol. i. 209 14 



