PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF BIRDS 143 



Attracting the Birds 



It is possible to attract birds near our homes if we can 

 surround them with the conditions they demand. The best 

 way is to plant trees and shrubbery about the house. There 

 should be clumps of trees and shrubs so as to afford shelter 

 and concealment and places for their nests. Evergreens 

 are much used by the birds as shelter against wind, 

 snow, and rain, and are a favorite choice for building- 

 sites. Fruit trees and berry bushes are sure to attract birds, 

 not only for the fruit, but for the caterpillars and other in- 

 sects that live on these plants. Wild berries and fruit seem 

 to be preferred to cultivated ones. Choke-cherry, mountain 

 ash, raspberry, barberry, currant, etc., and grape and wood- 

 bine afford food, some of them even to winter birds. Clumps 

 of hemp, ragweed, sunflower, etc., attract the seed-eaters. 

 Nuthatches, woodpeckers, chicadees, and other winter 

 birds can be induced to stay during the summer by feed- 

 ing them in the winter months. Pieces of tallow or bacon 

 fastened to the trees in the winter will be relished by the 

 birds. 



In towns cats are the worst enemies of the birds, and 

 should not be allowed to run at large if one wishes to attract 

 the latter. 



In the summer a very good way to attract the birds, es- 

 pecially if they have far to go for open water, is to set up a 

 drinking and bathing fountain or basin. These are much 

 appreciated by the birds. A drinking trough or basin is 

 made by nailing a board on top of a post or by placing a 

 shelf on the trunk of a tree. On this put any large, shallow 

 dish, a stone crock, a large flower-pot saucer, or chopping- 



