192 Bird -Lore 



the ibota hedge, garnished with the evergreen trees and Styrax japonica, seems 

 a Httle bird-city all by itself. 



The garage limits a portion of the eastern border, and here, covered as it 

 is by bittersweet and trumpet vines, the birds gather to refresh themselves. 

 On the south wall of the garage was placed a Bluebird house and a Chickadee 

 house. The Bluebird house has been visited and these houses soften the 

 appearance of the garage wall on this side. 



A general view of the garden, hardly 50 feet square, is rather pleasing to 

 one interested in birds. The cherry, plum, pear, and apple trees are there, 

 not entirely for our own use, but that the birds may enjoy them as well. The 

 vines, hedges, and flowers of the garden attract the Hummingbirds and Wrens. 

 At the close of day the Song Sparrow and the Chipping Sparrow enjoy the 

 rockway bath. This space is for the birds and will remain so while the writer 

 owns it. It furnishes a pleasant, worth-while recreation. 



Regarding the Martin house, it pleases one interested in birds to know that 

 in this, the first season it has been out, four Martins have quite regularly 

 made visits. They come early in the morning and remain during the forenoon. 

 The Bluebirds persist in fighting them away but in time, possibly next year, 

 we hope that the Martins will return, conquer, and survive. How pleasing 

 it would be to establish a Martin colony in a city from which they have been 

 absent for several years! 



Here is one little interesting incident in closing. Early this spring, in May, 

 a pair of the Bluebirds were seeking to nest in one of the houses. A male 

 English Sparrow took command of the house and the quarrel began. Such 

 a noise and confusion! The Bluebirds called in cooperative forces and while 

 the argument was at its height, seated on a wire running from the residence 

 across the garden to the garage were seen the following birds: a pair of Blue- 

 birds, a pair of Wrens, a Hummingbird, a pair of Purple Finches, a pair of 

 Yellow Warblers, and a pair of Chipping and of Song Sparrows. They were 

 all arrayed in a straight line and with the seeming intent of drivingthe EngHsh 

 Sparrow away. It goes without stating that the English Sparrow lost out and 

 the Bluebirds built and reared their brood. Many are the birds seen in this 

 little garden daily. The Catbird, Blue Jay, Crackle, Flicker, Waxwing, as 

 well as those enumerated as gathering on the wire, are seen at almost any time. 



This account is given merely to encourage others to establish these little 

 sanctuaries. We cannot do too much for our bird friends, and the recreation 

 gained by this hobby is a beneficial one. May others take this work up and 

 thus properly mold a fitting environment so that our feathered friends may 

 enjoy coming to the city. 



