Notes on Winter Feeding 



243 



and, of course, the English Sparrow was 

 always present. 



Some may question the desirability of 

 helping such birds to winter, knowing some- 

 thing of the destructive bird-nesting habits 

 of the Crows and Jays and the unpraise- 

 worthy qualities of the English Sparrow. 



But feelings change in the barren winter 

 season. We feel well disposed toward every 

 form of outdoor life, and perhaps 

 cherish the hope that the mem- 

 ory of our bounty will work a 

 desirable change in character 

 when the milder weather comes. 

 Such hopes are, of course, vain, 

 — but that is no reason, I take it, 

 why we should stop feeding the 

 birds that are brave enough to 

 spend the long, cold winter with 

 us here in the North. 



The photo of the food table 

 (Camera, Brownie No. 2), was 

 taken from within the kitchen to 

 the sill of one window to which 

 the table was nailed. The table, so ar- 

 ranged, brought the birds to close quarters. 

 We could stand close to the window and 

 watch the birds feeding. If ice formed on 

 the table, a little hot water quickly cleared 

 it. We nail the table in place regularly 

 with the advent of winter, and it never lacks 

 guests. 



The first season, among our more common 

 visitors, we had a pair of Red-breasted 

 Nuthatches, the first we had ever seen. 

 They stayed with us a number of weeks, 

 and that one experience was worth all the 

 trouble of keeping the table up, though we 

 never thought of "trouble" in that connec- 

 tion. It is a great place to study bird 

 character. 



All Chickadees look alike to us when 

 seen in the trees at a little distance, but on 

 the table a few feet distant they are just as 

 different in appearance and manners as peo- 

 ple are. Five Chickadees and a Nuthatch 

 were on the tray at one time; again, five 

 Chickadees and a Downy Woodpecker; 

 again, three Chickadees, a Downy and a 

 Nuthatch. One morning five Blue Jays were 

 there together. But, with the Jays present, 

 the onlv bird that we ever saw come to the 



table was a Chickadee, and he appeared 

 rather ill at ease. — Bert F. Case, Middle 

 Haddam, Conn. 



From Jacksonville, Illinois 



As you request notes on feeding birds in 

 winter, for the October number of Bird- 

 Lore, I venture to send in an account of my 

 experiences, which, though somewhat com- 



A WELL- PATRONIZED LUNCH COUNTER 

 Photographed by Bert F. Case 



monplace, may prove helpful to people 

 who are too busy, or otherwise unable to 

 plan an elaborate entertainment for their 

 bird friends. Ever since I began bird-study, 

 six years ago, I have kept a simple winter 

 table ; and it has been a never-failing source 

 of pleasure and instruction to me, as well as 

 a help to my guests during the bad weather. 



We have an acre of ground around our 

 home, and fine trees, but there are streets on 

 all but the north side, so I chose that side for 

 the bird table, as it is the most sheltered, 

 and at the same time affords us the best 

 chance to watch the birds from the house. I 

 began by tying lumps of suet up in some 

 small trees near the windows, and very soon 

 my guests began to arrive. I generally set 

 the table early in October and keep it spread 

 until late in the spring. 



After the first winter or two, I devised a 

 plan of bringing the suet-eaters within 

 closer range. I fastened a rough stick, 

 about two or three inches in diameter, to the 

 window-shutters, across the window a little 

 below the middle sash, and upon this stick 

 I tied my lump of suet. From that time on, 

 we have had the pleasure, all winter long, of 

 watching our bird neighbors at their lunch, 



