208 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



Importance of Attracting Birds. Whether or not .there 

 are any large number of birds in any particular garden or 

 estate, there are various reasons why such efforts to attract 

 birds are abundantly worth while. Even if only a normal 

 number of birds were attracted to the grounds of a bird- 

 lover, these birds would be more likely to rear their young 

 successfully under protection than under average conditions. 

 In most cases, however, the number of birds on a tract made 

 congenial to bird life will be larger than though no efforts 

 were made to attract them. In every such case a number of 

 birds are saved from enemies or are enabled to survive the 

 winter, and one or more people gain a practical interest in 

 the increase of bird life. Now, make this matter of attract- 

 ing and feeding birds a nation-wide movement, as it is 

 becoming, and the local good to a few birds or people is 

 multiplied by thousands, and becomes an important factor. 

 Not only are birds increased, but the public are interested 

 in birds and their conservation, good legislation is more 

 readily secured and maintained, and the laws are better 

 enforced. 



Cooperation from Game Preserves. The importance of 

 cooperation in attracting and protecting birds by the owners 

 of game preserves and by sportsmen's organizations is 

 coming to be recognized. It is for the interest of all such to 

 maintain and increase the supply of the species used as 

 game. The methods used to protect and increase these 

 have the same effect upon bird life in general. Most out- 

 door men and sportsmen worthy of the name, as distin- 

 guished from mere irresponsible pot-hunters, are glad to see 

 the smaller birds about, and enjoy their presence. Owner- 

 ship of land tends to arouse a sense of responsibility, and the 

 owners of land used for hunting are apt to oppose wanton 

 destruction. On well-regulated game preserves there is 



