BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



ply is cut off by the elements. In extremely 

 cold weather it is only food which keeps their 

 little bodies warm, and if they cannot get it 

 they soon perish. When snow is very deep the 

 seed-eating birds are entirely dependent upon 

 what they can gather from stray stalks that 

 rise above the snow. Frequently even these are 

 covered by drifts, and then such birds as Quail 

 are liable to starve to death in large numbers. 

 Supplying food in sheltered places is a great 

 help to both resident and migratory birds, es- 

 pecially the early comers that are liable to be 

 overtaken by storms. 



To protect the birds from their natural ene- 

 mies is not always possible. For the birds that 

 come to our own premises, however, much can 

 be done towards keeping down wild creatures 

 that prey upon them. By doing this not only 

 will the birds already there be protected but 

 their numbers will rapidly increase, for safety 

 is the greatest attraction that birds can have. 

 Abundant food supplies will draw them to a 

 spot, but freedom from danger means much 

 more. Scarcity of food they can overcome by 

 flying long distances and hunting late and 

 early, but they are no match for snakes, crows, 

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