r I iHE winter care of the birds really begins during 

 -* the summer before. For then it is that we plant 

 great quantities of sunflowers, planting so many we 

 may leave at least half the seed heads untouched for 

 the autumn birds to help themselves to, the remainder 

 being stored away in crates carefully protected from 

 rats for the bird hard times in midwinter. 



There is also a large patch of peanuts planted for 

 the chickadees and nuthatches. The chickadees 

 eventually become so tame they permit us to offer 

 them peanuts in the fingers, perching on the hand 

 when nibbling. The peanuts (crushed) are daily 

 spread on a shelf extending beyond the studio win- 

 dow in full sight, where we may enjoy the merry 

 feasting of the chickadees and the sly thief-like 

 snatching of the hatches. 



During the autumn little bird hotels are erected in 

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