ZOOI.OdlCAI. SOCIETY IMI.T.ETIX 



Api'liaxces for Excouraging 

 OF THE Birds. 



Bfi Lee S. Craxdall, 

 Axsislant Curator of Birds. 



NOW that the great battle lias been fought 

 aiid won for tlie legal protection of our 

 .-■uialler birds — known collectively as song 

 birds, although many do not sing — the question 

 arises as to how best to help them to regain ai 

 approximation of their former abundance. Ex- 

 amination of the conditions brings to light the 

 fact that actu.il persecution at the hand of man 

 has not been the only cause of the diminution 

 of birds. This direct method has been comple- 

 mented by a far more insidious means, and one 

 which cannot be so easih' combatted. 



When the colonization of America commenced, 

 it is easy to imagine that some stimulus may 

 have been given to certain small birds — more 

 especially those which liabitually nested in hol- 

 low trees, and excavations in dead stumps. The 

 clearing of ground, which left many stubs, and 

 the establishment of orchards, meant a great 

 mnltiijlication of nesting sites and an increase 

 of feeding grounds for those species which pre- 

 ferred oi)en country. But with the density of 

 |)opulation constantly increasing, more care was 

 devoted to the conservation of forests, and to- 

 day tiie .•ii)i)lication of modern forestry methods 

 lias so trimmed the branches of the old orchards, 



TYPES OK BIKD HOUSES 

 SheUers for bluebirds and owls, and a device for 



and so carefully removed all dead or decayed 

 forest trees, and insect-harboring undergrowth, 

 that many of our useful birds are hard pressed 

 indeed to find a cranny in which to deposit their 

 eggs, or cover in which to search for food. 



The red-headed woodpecker, once common 

 about New York, is now rarely seen, and for 

 the first time in many years, a pair is nesting 

 this spring in the Zoological Park. European 

 starlings and si)arrows occupy the few remain- 

 ing iioles suitable for the nests of bluebirds and, 

 excepting during the migration period, the quer- 

 ulous notes of this beautiful songster are want- 

 ing from our parks and suburbs. 



Since it is evident tliat this condition has been 

 brought about directly by us. it is equally obvi- 

 ous that it rests witli us to remedy it as far as 

 lies within our .ability. Fortunately the means 

 is at hand, and its ai>i)lication is of direct .ind 

 permanent value to many of the liirds we most 

 desire to benefit. 



