68 METHODS OF ATTRACTING BIRDS 



watched. Leave it open at the top and put in food 

 and a shallow dish of fresh water with the young 

 birds. The parents will soon find and feed them, 

 and when they are able to fly upwards and out 

 of the barrel, they will take care of themselves. 

 Of course they must be watched by day and 

 securely covered at night until they are strong 

 enough to fly out of their place of refuge." 



This plan was successfully tried with some young 

 cardinals, which were fed in the barrel by the 

 female. If, however, the parents do not come to 

 the barrel, the young should be fed about once 

 an hour till the adult birds do resume their duties. 



Another means of protecting the young birds 

 is to place them in a cage with oilcloth over the 

 top, and suspend it in a tree near the nest. The 

 parents may then come and feed the fledglings 

 through the bars. They should be kept in the 

 cage a few days till their wings are stronger, and 

 then released. But they should be watched and 

 fed till the parents do come to the cage, so that 

 if deserted they may be reared by hand. If the 

 weather is cold or stormy, the cage should be taken 

 down and put in a warm place during the night. 

 In catching the young bird special caution should 

 be taken not to frighten it. It is better to wait till 

 the parents have ceased their cries of alarm and 

 have departed for food, before attempting to take 



