20 



BOY BIRD HOUSE ARCHITECTURE 



BIRD Box SPECIFICATIONS. 



To successfully entice the birds to a man, 

 or rather boy or girl-made home, there are 

 certain rules which experience has proven we 

 must follow. 



The drawings in this book have been made 

 r.s nearly correct as careful study of all avail- 

 able data on the subject will allow. The au- 

 thor feels confident that if the drawings, to- 

 gether with the specifications that go with 

 them, are carefully followed the artisan will 

 be amply rewarded by finding all bird tene- 

 ments "let" as soon as the spring migration 

 and nesting season starts. 



These houses and many of varied design 

 have been successfully built by pupils of the 

 seventh and eighth grades, with over 75 per- 

 cent of success in having them occupied. 



The table given below gives the correct di- 

 mensions for a variety of houses for different 

 birds. 



The size of the opening is very important, 

 as it is essential that it be no larger than is 

 necessary for the bird for whom it is intended, 

 to conveniently enter. 



The smaller birds will be bothered a great 

 deal by the English sparrow, who enters if 

 the opening is not kept very small. 



It is considered by a majority of authori- 

 ties that a perch is not a help but a hindrance 

 at the opening. The sparrows alight there 

 and by their incessant chirping drive out or 

 annoy the more desirable occupants. Again, 

 the bluebird and most of the other song bird.? 

 can fly directly to the edge of the opening 

 and thus go in, while the sparrow, not quite. 



