l8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Prof. C. F. Hodge of Worcester, Mass., who has in three years 

 been able to show an increase of 3005^ in the native bird popula- 

 tion of a city block. 



The initial step in this work is to provide conditions adapted 

 to the wants of birds. Mr Forbush states,^ " that such a place 

 should be so situated as to provide shelter from cold northerly 

 winds and storms. It must be well watered, and should be pro- 

 vided with small patches of coniferous trees, and wind breaks 

 of trees, shrubs and vines. Large groves of pines or other 

 conifers are not particularly desirable as they provide nesting 

 places for crows, jays, hawks and other enemies of small birds. 

 It should have a great diversity of vegetation, including a variety 

 of fruit-bearing plants. A portion of the land should be wooded. 

 If there are too many trees, they may be cut in much less time 

 than it takes to grow them ; and those trees, shrubs and vines 

 that are especially attractive to birds may be left. It is well to 

 leave some dead trees or dead limbs in which the woodpeckers 

 can breed, for, unless these birds can be induced to nest about 

 the farm, the trees will suffer from many insidious insect foes." 



Mr Forbush mentions white oaks, white or gray birch, the 

 common gray alder, elms, pines, larches and hemlocks as being 

 most attractive to various birds. He also gives in the above 

 cited volume a rather long list of fruit-bearing trees, shrubs and 

 vines furnishing food for birds. 



Attracting and feeding the native winter birds is another line 

 of effort productive of much pleasure and at the same time of 

 considerable practical importance. It has been stated, for ex- 

 ample, that a pear orchard in New York State, badly infested 

 by psylla, was practically cleared of the pest by nuthatches 

 ".hich worked in the orchard all winter. Many valuable insect- 

 ivorous birds will remain about the farm if only slight provision 

 is made for their comfort. Mr Forbush states that sparrows 

 prefer some shelter such as thickets and tangles of deciduous 

 bushes and trees and will even take refuge in brush piles. A 

 little chaff scattered about the door, after a snow fall, is very 

 attractive to these birds. He states that certain winter birds 

 readily take shelter in sheds or even in poultry scratching sheds 

 protected by ordinary 2 inch wire mesh. The birds are safe in 

 these latter retreats from both cats and hawks. Mr Forbush 

 recommends as winter food for birds, chaff from barn floors, 



' 1907 Forbush, E. H. Useful Birds and their Protection, p. 37^. 



