322 A Plea for the Birds 



lettuce, radishes, and water cress are particularly 

 tasteful to them. Also young and tender grass 

 shoots. 



If shrubs and vines are planted to feed the birds, 

 they will not eat so much cultivated fruit. They 

 must eat to live just the same as human beings. 



A bluebird desires for his food seventy-six per 

 cent, of insects and twenty-four per cent, of wild 

 fruit. Insects include grasshoppers, beetles, cater- 

 pillars, and spiders. 



A sandy soil does not produce a great variety of 

 food for the birds. For seed eaters, beach grass 

 should be sown, and plenty of sunflowers. For 

 fruit eaters, the bayberry, sea buckthorn, sand, 

 cherry, beach plum, and cranberries. 



Near the coast, trees that will withstand the wind 

 should be planted for the birds. Among them are: 

 Juniper, barberry, English thorn, red-berried 

 elder, Staghorn and smooth sumac, privets and 

 mountain ash. 



Plant wild-cherry trees for the birds. There is 

 nothing they love more than cherries. Allow the 

 fruit to dry on the tree and fall to the ground when 

 the leaves drop. 



