ATTRACTING THE WINTER BIRDS 91 



it is well worth while to take the little trouble neces- 

 sary to prepare a special kind of lunch-counter 

 where the birds may be assembled and studied 

 more closely. In its simplest form this may consist 

 of a board attached to a tree, with a narrow strip 

 around the edge to prevent the food from being 

 blown off. Small holes should be bored in this to 

 allow the water to drain out. This may be placed 

 at first at a little distance till the birds become 

 accustomed to coming to it, and then brought 

 gradually nearer the house. 



Window Shelf. — The shelf may be placed at 

 a window, and many birds will become so tame 

 that they will feed here even when a person is 

 sitting by the window inside. This shelf should 

 be wide, so as to allow room for a number of birds to 

 dine at once. If covered with burlap, the small seeds 

 and crumbs will blow away less easily. It would 

 doubtless be worth while to arrange some kind of 

 awning or roof over this to keep off the snow, so 

 that the birds might be able to find food during 

 the storms. The combination of food and shelter 

 would evidently offer a stronger inducement to 

 the birds than food alone. An interesting device 

 is to attach a small tree to the shelf. On the 

 branches suet, bones, etc., may be fastened, while 

 any kind of food may be placed on the shelf. 



