Notes for the Month.



207



One word in conclusion. Do not entirely trust strangers in

birdy transactions, and refuse to send birds on approval, unless the

prospective buyer will take full responsibility and return the bird at

once, in as good condition as when sent, so far as that is possible.



NOTES FOR THE MONTH.


By Secretariats.


MAY.


[A member of the Society has kindly undertaken to write monthly

notes, which are chiefly intended for beginners].


By this time most of our birds will be put out in their

summer quarters. If possible there should always be two sets of

quarters, viz., summer and winter. If not, the ground gets abso¬

lutely stale, with the inevitable result that sooner or later disease

will crop up and kill some valuable birds, if not the whole lot.

Another advantage is that the winter quarters can be cleaned and

whitewashed. Also one can catch any mice or other vermin. If

the winter aviary has been heated this will have been discontinued

during the latter part of April and all windows and doors opened

during that time when the sun is bright. Practically speaking, all

waxbills, grassfinches, firefinches, and nearly all softbills can be put

out in May without much risk. It is not the cold at nights that

kill birds. It is the long cold nights that kill them. When putting

softbills out, be sure and put their food in the same kind of vessel

that they have got used to. In a natural garden aviary the soft

food bill will at once show a welcome diminution. We will take it

that the summer shelter has been cleaned, fresh perching accommo¬

dation supplied and all nesting receptacles taken down and thoroughly

washed with disinfectant. Many young birds are lost through the

birds using old nesting sites. While making nesting boxes, &c., two

things are important. One is to have one side of the box to open so

as to examine the contents and the other to have the roof projecting

a good three inches all round to protect from rain and to some

extent the bright sun. Study last year’s nesting sites and find out

their favourite places. Pull all old nests down out of the shrubs.



