204 Wild Bird Guests 



the trees of the garden and orchard, and in the 

 woodland nearby. 



Preparations for Hanging 



If your boxes are of the Berlepsch type, the 

 first thing to do is to drop into the bottom of 

 each a small quantity of sawdust and dry earth 

 mixed together, about half and half. This is 

 to take the place of the peckings of decayed wood 

 which woodpeckers always leave in the bottom 

 of the cavities they make. Such birds do not as 

 a rule carry in nesting material, and these peck- 

 ings take the place of it. The quantity of dry 

 earth and sawdust mixture differs with the size 

 of the nest box. The following quantities are 

 recommended by Baron von Berlepsch himself: 



For sizes Nos. i and 2, one heaping tablespoonful. 

 For size No. 3, two heaping tablespoonfuls. 

 For sizes Nos. 4 and 5, ten heaping tablespoonfuls. 



This mixture may be dropped through the 

 entrance hole; it is not necessary to raise the 

 lid. Any nest box intended for wood ducks 

 should be left three-quarters full of dry leaves. 

 This may be more leaves than necessary but the 

 ducks will throw out what they do not need. 



