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Bird - Lore 



any fruit store, and serves the purpose admirably. The entrance hole may be 

 made to suit the bird likely to occupy it. The first one, which is now (June i8, 

 1 910) occupied by Sparrow Hawks, was made with an entrance hole three 

 inches across, in the hope that it would be occupied as a winter home for 

 Screech Owls. The other one, now occupied by Flickers, has an entrance two 

 inches in diameter. There should be at least a foot of space below the entrance- 

 hole, as these birds all like deep nesting-places. My boxes are placed eighteen 

 or twenty feet above ground, as Woodpeckers, and Sparrow Hawks as well, 

 like lofty sites. The box should be nailed to the top of a pole, or to the side of 

 a tree, near the top, to make the situation seem as much like a natural one as 

 possible. I should not expect such a box nailed halfway up the trunk of a 

 tall tree to attract these birds, as it is not a natural situation. While old 

 boards should be used, care should be taken that there are no cracks, as the 

 birds seem to avoid a box that is not tight. 



After several years of experiment, I feel sure that I have solved the prob- 

 lem of attracting Woodpeckers and Sparrow Hawks to artificial nesting- 

 sites. While, no doubt, improvements will be suggested, I believe that these 

 birds can be attracted to such boxes as those described, if placed in suitable 

 situations, as easily as Bluebirds, Wrens, or Martins, to made-to-order houses. 

 After all, the cork in the bottom of the cavity is the important thing to be 

 considered, and it is now in order to determine whether they will not occupy 

 almost any kind of box with a suitable bottom. 



An Artificial Swallow's Nest 



"Since town Swallows are din"dnishing in 

 number in Denmark, the society Svalen has 

 tried to attract them by artificial nests, which 

 are made from a model invented and constructed 

 by Mr. F. W. Falck, veterinary surgeon of 

 Kjeflinge (Sweden). These nests are made of 

 cement and are much frequented by Swallows. 

 The nest should be placed towards the east. 

 Swallows prefer this position. The nest must be 

 fixed close up under the eaves or in another prominent part of the house, so that 

 no space is left between it and the nest. The nests should be placed some dis- 

 tance apart from each other. They can be fixed with nails. The Swallows 

 themselves make the entrance hole. 



"if one wants to attract the Swallows, it is a good plan to leave some clay in 

 the yard and keep it moist with water. It is well worth while to bring back 

 these feathered neighbors, not alone for the pleasure of companionship, but for 

 the sake of the flies, mosquitos and other annoying insects which they will 

 destroy . ' ' — Svalen . 



ARTIFICIAL SWALLOW'S NEST 



