4IO 



Bird - Lore 



only disadvantage apparent at the time was the circumstance that our eight 

 acres were separated from the main road by a ten-acre tract of woodland; but 

 this was minimized by the generosity of the owner, who gave us the right of 

 way for a road across his land. Two years later this ten-acre tract was added, 

 by purchase, to Bird Haven; so that now eighteen acres are included within 

 its boundaries. 



As stated before, only one disadvantage in the site was apparent at first; 

 but, with better knowledge gained from experience, two additional ones 

 developed. One of them was so serious that, as told later on, we have been 

 obliged to give up all hope of residing there. The other pertains to the larger 

 stream which flows through the property. This at first seemed truly "a. thing of 

 beauty and a joy forever," an illusion effectually dispelled when the heavy 

 rains came, and we were amazed at the volume of water which came down the 

 valley, spreading over the whole extent of the lowlands, and bringing with it 

 drift in the form of logs, stumps, and everything floatable. Flood-gates at 



NESTING-BOXES FOR BIRDS: WOODPECKER HOLES IN DEAD LIMBS OF OLD 



FRUIT TREES, CUT OFF IN TRIMMING TREES 



(After photograph was made, these were wired fast to trees and all have been occupied each year by 



Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great Crested Flycatchers, Downy Woodpeckers Bluebirds, etc.) 



both places where the boundary fence crosses the creek became a necessity, 

 and the maintaining of these in effective condition is a serious problem. How- 

 ever, we have passed many happy and profitable days on Bird Haven, and, 

 while we no longer live there, all the improvements remain, and we make 

 occasional visits there. 



