Bird=-Lore 
A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE 
DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS 
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES 
Vol. XII SEPTEMBER—OCTOBER, 1910 No. 5 
Notes on Attracting Birds 
By JOHN C. PHILLIPS, Wenham, Mass. 
With photographs by the author 
NHE winter of 1t909-10 was rather remarkable for scarcity of winter 
birds, at least in eastern Massachusetts. During the last of October, 
1909, one of the Berlepsch food-bells was placed in position in a low 
growth of pitch-pine, about five feet above ground, filled with hemp-seed and 
hung with strips of beef suet. Three weeks later, Chickadees began to feed 
from the automatically regulated food-trough, and continued to do so in in- 
creasing numbers till early spring. No suet was used on the bell after the birds 
learned the trick of finding the seed. Before any other feeding-place was 
started, the reservoir was emptied by the birds about every five or six days. 
It is difficult to éstimate the numbers which fed there, but, roughly, it might 
have been between fifty and seventy. Suet was hung near by and kept fresh. 
The spot also attracted Kinglets, Juncos, and Downy Woodpeckers; and, as 
a certain amount of seed was continually thrown out onto the ground (in 
process of the birds’ feeding), Ring-necked Pheasants found it a profitable 
_ place to visit. 
In a high pine grove about a third of a mile away, another food-bell was 
hung at a later date. This has been systematically ‘worked’ by a pair of gray 
squirrels, apparently mostly in mischief, as the seed lies on the ground. They 
have sometimes emptied the reservoir in a day and a half. This experience 
presents an unlooked-for drawback in the application of the bell. How serious 
this would be, only time can show. 
One of the Hessian food-houses, pictured and described on page 71 of the 
manual “How to Attract and Protect Wild Birds” (National Association of 
Audubon Societies), was put in operation early in January. Built by the local 
carpenter, painted, and fitted complete, with glass, it cost twelve dollars. 
Several might be built for slightly less. This house will last a long time. It 
combines accessible food with shelter; and also provides possible nesting-sites. 
If properly “‘brushed” up, it keeps the ground under it free from snow, forming 
a protected spot for the ground feeders. This seems to be avoided by the Crows, 
which are the bane of all those who attempt to feed the game birds. 
