316 A Plea for the Birds 



Rustic houses are the prettiest, and a perch should 

 be included in every house even if the bird does not 

 use it for long at a time. On rainy days many 

 birds will not venture out at all 



Houses for bluebirds should have a floor space 

 of at least twenty-five square inches, and should be 

 eight to ten inches in height. The entrance need 

 not be larger than an inch and a half in diameter, 

 and the house should be placed eight or ten feet 

 above the ground. 



A clothes post makes a good place to fasten a bird- 

 house, but it should first have been covered with a 

 vine to lure the bird to a more natural setting. 

 Honeysuckle will prove most satisfactory, or a 

 wistaria vine, or climbing rose. This adornment 

 will make of the homely clothes post a pleasing 

 ornament, and the birds will appreciate the foliage. 



Bird houses painted white are attractive to hu- 

 mans but the birds would much prefer green, or 

 natural wood. 



Many birds which migrate to the South in the 

 winter can be persuaded to stay in the North if 

 suitable homes are provided. Artificial feeding 

 can easily be served. 



