Whitney — Discouraging the English Sparrow 209 



reared amidst the martins without his knowledge, as the par- 

 ents develop astonishing cunning in concealing the presence 

 of the family. 



Once in a while some one writes that he does not let any 

 sparrows nest in his yard. All praise to those who pursue this 

 laudable ambition. " No sparrows nests " ought to be the slo- 

 gan of every member of the Wilson Club, and every one else 

 who takes an interest in our native birds. 



PROTECTION OF FOOD SUPPLIES FOR NATIVE BIRDS. 



I have tried out two of the best known winter feeding de- 

 vices, one a self feeder attached to a tree, the other an expen- 

 sive glass shelter with self feeding hopper for nuts, 'erected on 

 an iron pole. The tree self-feeder was up only a short time 

 till the sparrows began to frequent it, to the virtual exclusion 

 of all others. Even when it contained food they did not want, 

 the sparrows sat around anyway, and kept other birds at a 

 distance. The glass shelter worked admirably last winter, 

 and afforded the chickadees and a red breasted nuthatch 

 plenty of dry food, and a sunny and shelterd place to rest. I 

 thought the recommendation of its makers, that sparrow.'^ 

 were afraid to enter, was justified ; but alas, my fond expecta- 

 tions were dashed this fall by finding it the favorite resort of 

 sparrows, who drove the returning chickadees away. Pos- 

 sibly it should not have been left standing all summer, and 

 familiarity bred contempt. Any way, it has been taken in 

 now, to be put up again later if there seems to be possibility 

 of the sparrows forgetting it. 



No attempt is now made to feed any of the hard billed or 

 seed eating birds, as it seems to be impossible to prevent such 

 food being monopolized by the sparrows. At present I am 

 feeding sun-flower seeds in cloth pockets on the trunks of 

 trees, and suet in mesh bags. Both these supplies are tacked 

 or tied on the upright trunk, and all small nearby limbs or 

 other projections that might serve as perches, are carefully cut 

 awav. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and brown 

 creepers have no difficulty in using these food supplies owing 



