BIRDS 



BIRDS 



505 



556. Pouring the food on me 

 "food-tree." 



lish or house sparrow are the most common enemies 

 or destroyers of birds. The red squirrel, weasel, crow, 

 and shrike are destroyers as well, but they seem to be 

 regulated naturally, although frequently one may inter- 

 fere to good effect, parti- 

 cularly in the case of 

 squirrels in parks. But 

 man, the cat and the 

 English sparrow should 

 be controlled. Our boys 

 can be educated to pro- 

 tect the wild birds. It is 

 being done in many 

 homes and schools. As 

 soon as a boy learns the 

 interesting habits of the 

 common birds he loses 

 the desire to kill, and 

 he prefers to protect and 

 observe. A bluebird or 

 wren nesting on the 

 premises will do more 

 than all the laws to cor- 

 rect the lawlessness of 

 boys. 



Experience shows that one must deal with the house 

 or English sparrow, if one is to win back pur insect- 

 eating birds in any great numbers. The increase of 

 other birds is in inverse ratio to the decrease of English 

 sparrows. However, not everyone should be allowed to 

 take part in the warfare against them. Schoolboys 

 and inexperienced men make too many mistakes in 

 trying to destroy them and their nests; and the taking 

 of the eggs from the nest seems too much like an out- 

 rage on the instinct of motherhood, to be tolerated. The 

 English sparrows should be kept within bounds as to 

 numbers. They can be kept in check by the use of 

 poisoned grain in winter. Some persons object to this 

 practice from sentimental reasons, but it is no worse to 

 despatch house sparrows than mice, prairie dogs, insects 

 or other pests; and if man does not keep the sparrows 

 within limits, they will destroy or drive away other 

 birds. A certain number of house sparrows is desirable 

 in winter, particularly in towns where there are few 

 other winter birds, but they should not be allowed to 

 become nuisances. See page 507. 



It has been estimated that a cat destroys on an 

 average about fifty song birds in one season. A new 

 attitude toward cats is needed. They should no more 

 be allowed to roam at will than should chickens or 

 goats. AH cats away from home are trespassers, and 

 should be so regarded; they should fall to the care of 

 a bird-warden. Bird-killing cats should be destroyed 

 or kept within doors. 



To attract birds, it is of 

 course necessary to win 

 their confidence. They 



557 The "food-stick " must feel comfortable and 

 secure. They must be 



aided to live through severe winter weather, and they 

 must have adequate nesting-places and drinking-places. 

 Measures to secure these ends have been put to the 

 test and found to be genuinely satisfactory. 



Feeding birds in winter. 



Many birds perish for want of food in every severe 

 winter. They digest their food so quickly that lack of 

 it for a few days results in death. The real necessity 

 is in the time of blizzards and continued cold, when 

 they cannot find their natural food. 



For insect-eating birds, suet and fat pork or a split 

 bone may be fastened to the trunks of trees by means 

 of wire netting and stout cord. Woodpeckers, nut- 

 hatches, and chickadees will be attracted. The netting 

 prevents crows, jays and squirrels from carrying off 

 the whole piece of food. 



S58. A "food-house" that can 

 be easily made. 



Seed-eating birds may be fed crumbs, nuts, millet, 

 chaff, sunflower seeds, squash seeds, and various grains, 

 including corn; also any kind of poultry-food, and even 

 dog-biscuit. These materials may be placed on the 

 ground after removing the snow, but should be pro- 

 tected to prevent waste. Many a bob-white has sur- 

 vived a heavy snowstorm by coming regularly to such 

 a place. All kinds of sparrows, juncos, and snow bunt- 

 ings are among the birds that are attracted by such 

 supplies. 



Many ways for feeding birds near the residence have 

 been more or less successful, depending largely on 

 the prevalence of the English or house sparrows. The 

 tree -shelf, window -shelf, 

 moving shelf or counter, 

 and the coconut filled 

 with pork and kernels of 

 nuts, are among the most 

 useful devices. 



In Germany, Baron von 

 Berlepsch has experi- 

 mented effectively in the 

 winter-feeding of birds, 

 with the idea of securing 

 the protection of the food, 

 and of making it acces- 

 sible at all times to all 

 birds. On his estate at 

 Seebach he uses the 

 "food-tree," the "food- 

 stick," the "food-house" 

 and the "food-bell," all of 

 which were devised after 

 many years of study of 

 the habits of birds. The food-tree (Fig. 556) imitates a 

 coniferous tree closely covered with insect eggs and 

 larva?. A mixture of hot liquid food which hardens as 

 it cools is poured upon the tree. This food consists of 

 white bread (dried and ground), meat (dried and 

 ground), hemp, millet, sunflower seeds, and other seeds 

 mixed with water. The food-tree is especially inter- 

 esting to children and has brought good results in the 

 study of winter birds. The food-stick (Fig. 557) is 

 merely a part of a branch with six 

 holes in which the food mixture is 

 placed at intervals. The food-house 

 (Fig. 558) is the most satisfactory of 

 all ways of feeding. It consists of a 

 roof on four corner posts with upper 

 and lower food-tables, the lower being 

 used only until the birds have dis- 

 covered the upper table. Below the 

 roof a strip of glass is fixed from post 

 to post. This is very important to 

 protect the food from the weather and 

 also to admit light. The food-bell (Fig. 

 559) is a device for making hemp seed 

 always accessible to the birds. It 

 is very popular, except with the 

 English sparrows. It may be 

 placed on trees or buildings. 



Nesting-houses. 



The birds that naturally make 559. Section of 



their nests in holes in trees are "food-bell." 



the ones that have been induced - f<J-d ish : M"*i 

 to build in artificial houses. Ac- % SSubS* 

 cordingly, the most successful 

 houses are those that somewhat resemble a hollow limb, 

 although great success has been attained with board 

 houses, and other styles, as gourds, and coconuts, and 

 even tin-cans. In fact, some bird will adapt itself to 

 almost any kind of house, provided cats, red squirrels 

 and English sparrows are kept away. 



A most satisfactory cat-proof box for a bluebird can 

 be made of weather-stained boards, if the following 



