CHAPTER XXX 

 GAME COVER PLANTS 



WHEN selecting ground-cover plants and undergrowth plants 

 for locations which are naturally attractive to birds, especially the 

 game birds, it is possible to provide a more inviting "sanctuary" for 

 these birds by the use of plants which produce food either in the way 

 of buds and foliage, or of nuts and seeds. These plants are mostly 

 native species and many of them are not offered in the catalogs of 

 the growers of ornamental plants. They could be easily collected 

 where they occur locally or secured from some of the collectors of 

 native plants. Seeds also might be easily collected and sown where 

 they are to grow. These game cover plants should be established in 

 areas ranging from one hundred feet square to a number of acres, to 

 provide combined shelter and food for several kinds of birds at one 

 time. The location of these plantings should be chosen so that they 

 will not need to be disturbed for some years, and will also be within 

 easy flying distance of dense woods, if possible. An ideal location 

 would be in a clearing entirely surrounded by woods which contain 

 hemlocks or pines or other dense shelter. 



Not only will such plants used as a bird-sanctuary attract our 

 permanent bird residents such as the ruffed grouse, bob white, gold- 

 finches, nuthatches, and chickadees, but they will attract many other 

 seed-eating birds until the cold weather drives them south. 



LIST OF GAME COVER PLANTS 



The following group of plants are valuable for use as ground cover 

 where there is also a chance to provide suitable shelters for game 

 birds, especially grouse. These groups are : (A) Plants of which the 

 buds, blossoms, and foliage are eaten by game birds, and (B) Plants 

 of which the nuts or seeds are eaten by game birds. These are mostly 

 native plants. 



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