SECTION II 
CAUSES FOR THE DECREASE OF SONG BIRDS 
1. Lack of Nesting Places. —It is known to every 
country boy that woodpeckers and nuthatches are the 
carpenters of the bird world. ‘They excavate old and 
decaying trees and limbs, and in the holes and hollows 
make houses for their young. Where old trees are 
numerous, these bird carpenters build more houses than 
they need for themselves, and the vacant or deserted 
woodpecker homes are eagerly sought by chickadees, 
titmice, brown creepers, wrens, and bluebirds; each 
bird selecting from the “To Rent” list a house which 
in size and location suits its taste. In larger holes, 
which probably were caused by the decay of broken 
branches and were enlarged by woodpeckers, small owls 
and the beautiful wood duck build their nests. 
But where can these birds nest, when there are no 
old, hollow trees left standing ? Most of them are com- 
pelled to leave the regions where their natural homes 
are no longer found. A few make use of old telegraph 
poles, old fence posts, and other substitutes. These 
places are, however, very much exposed to cats, birds of 
prey, thoughtless boys, and adult fool gunners. After 
one or two seasons the linemen put in a new telegraph 
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