208 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



How TO ATTRACT THE BiRDS. 



If nesting boxes are set up in accordance with the foregoing 

 directions, English sparrows disposed of, and nests safeguarded 

 against cats and squirrels, some of the boxes are sure to be 

 occupied by birds, provided there is a sufficient diversity of« 

 vegetation in the neighborhood to furnish them with a variety 

 of insect food and wild fruit, and unless they are too much 

 disturbed by the noisy activity of their human, feline or canine 

 neighbors. We cannot expect many birds to be attracted to 

 a city yard where there is neither grass, trees, water nor shrub- 

 bery. They always appreciate a near supply of water. If 

 nesting material such as hay, straw, twine, cotton, hair, string, 

 etc., be hung on a fence or placed on a bushy branch near the 

 nesting box, that alone may decide some bird to nest there. 

 If twine is put out it should be cut in short pieces not over a 

 foot in length, else birds may be ensnared by it. Wherever a 

 pair of tree swallows nest, many other boxes, similar to the one 

 chosen by them, should be put up on poles, for they are sociable 

 birds and one pair will attract others. 



Experiments sometimes have demonstrated that certain in- 

 dividual birds are grateful for nesting material placed in the 

 box. A pair of chickadees made their nest by digging a hollow 

 in cotton batting that I had placed in the bottom of the box 

 for their use. It is well always to keep a few nesting boxes out 

 all winter with some cotton or other nesting material in the 

 bottom of each, to furnish winter lodging for chickadees, nut- 

 hatches and woodpeckers, as these birds like to sleep in such 

 snug quarters. Chickadees and nuthatches may be attracted 

 to nesting boxes by first destroying all the decayed trees and 

 stumps near by, and then feeding the birds all winter on bits 

 of suet, meat, fat or sunflower seeds placed near the boxes. 

 If this supply is kept up during the spring, some of the birds 

 are likely to nest in the boxes and their young seek similar 

 domiciles until a little colony becomes established. Nuthatches 

 may be attracted to nesting boxes in the same w^ay. 



Wrens are rare and local in Massachusetts but when once a 

 colony is started they are almost perfectly protected in nesting 

 boxes and are likely to increase. There should be at least 



