How to Understand the Birds [ 37 



How to Be a Good Neighbor to the Birds 



There are a number of ways to bring wild birds close to you* 

 home where you may enjoy them and study them. One of the 

 most effective overtures of friendship is to provide a birdbath. 

 Songbirds as a rule seem to be attracted by water. Some of them 

 even relish taking a bath when it is raining; but during hot dry 

 spells when many natural sources of water dry up, your birdbath 

 will serve a really essential purpose. 



There are also times when birds have trouble finding drinking 

 water. The simplest way to provide a bath and drinking fountain 

 is to set a shallow pan filled with water on the ground, on a post, 

 or on a ledge. In placing the pan, keep in mind the danger from 

 cats. These enemies must not have any nearby hiding place from 

 which to launch a surprise attack against the birds. A birdbath 

 of concrete comes near to being ideal because its dull surface 

 blends well with the browns, greens, and grays that surround it, 

 and its rough surface makes perching easy. 



FEEDING THE BIRDS IN WINTERTIME 



You can also attract birds by building houses and shelters 

 for them. But probably the greatest service you can render is to 

 furnish winter food. Though completely self-reliant in warm 

 weather, the birds that remain north throughout the year are 

 often desperate for food during the winter months. Birds have 

 an exceptionally high body temperature, and so long as they have 

 sufficient food to keep this temperature normal they do not suffer 

 from the cold. But if a scarcity of food results in a lowering of 

 the body temperature, the birds suffer severely and may even 

 freeze to death. 



You can provide food for them in a number of ways. If you 

 have a yard, simply trample down the snow at some suitable spot 

 and sprinkle crumbs and seeds. Or else you may tie pieces of suet 

 to trees or posts. A feeding tray fastened to a window makes a 

 good, safe feeding station and also gives you a wonderful oppor< 

 tunity to watch birds at close quarters. You can even photograph 

 them without much trouble. Cut a circular hole at the bottom of 



