CARE OF BIRD HOUSES 



583 



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FlG. 2. VERTICAL SECTION, SIDE TO SIDE, WITH 



SUGGESTIONS FOR LARDER; DIAGRAMMATIC 

 AND CROSS SECTION OF FOOD SHELTER 

 SHOWN IN FIGURE 1. 



the habit of eating eggs of young birds; 

 the result will probably be that not 

 more than one red squirrel in fifty nor 

 more than one gray squirrel in a hundred 

 will have to be killed. Where squirrels 

 are numerous they give more or less 

 trouble by gnawing and disfiguring 

 houses. This damage may be pre- 

 vented, however, by covering the parts 

 about the entrance with tin or zinc. 



FOOD SHELTERS 



Another means of attracting birds 

 about human habitations is to furnish 

 an abundance of food, preferably in 

 food shelters. If one is unable to make 



shelters that will protect food in all 

 kinds of weather, the food may be 

 fastened to trunks or branches of trees 

 or scattered in sheltered places on the 

 ground. A decided advantage in having 

 shelters, aside from that of protecting 

 food, is that they may be placed where 

 the birds can be watched conveniently. 

 When shelters are used the birds are 

 first baited by placing food, such as 

 suet, seeds, or cracked nuts, in a con- 

 spicuous place, and then led by degrees 

 to enter the inclosure. Designs for two 

 food shelters are exhibited in figures 1 

 and 5, one of which is supported by a 

 post, the other by a tree. Structural 

 details are shown for both. There is no 

 bottom to either of them. 



LOCATION OF HOUSES 



The location of a bird house or food 

 shelter has much to do with its success,- 

 for the reason that birds have decided 

 notions as to proper surroundings for a 

 dwelling. Martins prefer to breed near 

 houses, but not within 20 feet of trees 

 or buildings. Bluebirds are inclined to 

 select orchards or pastures having 

 scattered trees. Wrens, thrashers, and 

 catbirds live in thick shrubbery. Robins 

 like trees with sturdy trunks and 

 branches. Titmice, nuthatches, and 

 most of the woodpeckers are woodland 

 species, although nickers and red-headed 

 woodpeckers are more at home among 

 the scattered trees of roadsides and 

 pastures. Song sparrows frequent weedy 

 swales and brush fences. Swallows do 

 not enter woods so that a house would 

 be as attractive to them in one open 



Fig. 3. front and side'elevations of shelter shown in 



FIGURE 1. 



