258 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



try to select certain particular foods for certain species. 

 This artificial feeding is a makeshift at best, and birds when 

 hungry are not particular, as long as they secure that which 

 is capable of affording them nourishment. 



Such birds as nuthatches and chickadees are particularly 

 fond of ground-up nuts of any kinds, and broken squash 

 and sunflower seeds, also ground-up dog biscuit, doughnuts, 

 and bread crumbs. These are good also for all seed-eating 

 birds, though seeds and small grains are easier and cheaper 

 to provide for those which can use them. Barn sweepings 

 are attractive to them, and certainly are cheap. Almost 

 any small seeds will do, such as millet, hemp, rape, canary 

 seed, and the like, also any ground grain. On the Henry 

 Ford farm they have bags of (i) hemp, (2) canary and rape, 

 (3) sunflower seed, (4) ground mixed-grain, with some beef- 

 scrap. The usual feeding had been equal parts of the first 

 three, and one fourth as much of the last. It was found, 

 however, that most birds greatly preferred the hemp and 

 would eat that first, so the amount of this was increased, 

 sometimes even to three quarters of the total supply. They 

 shell the hemp as they eat it. 



Seasons for Feeding. Winter is, of course, the one time 

 when the birds absolutely require food. Yet, while they 

 can get it at other times, judicious use of it in a small way 

 can sometimes be made in helping to attract more birds 

 to one's own premises. For instance, suet kept up near 

 the nesting-boxes may induce some individuals which re- 

 main in winter, such as chickadees and nuthatches, to oc- 

 cupy them for breeding. The presence of a feeding-tray, 

 with a variety of attractive food, may induce spring arrivals 

 to remain there to nest. Mr. Ford maintains such an ar- 

 rangement on his estate, near his bungalow. It is a long, 

 flat tray, made of boards, perhaps two feet wide and about 



