152 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 



matches that of the bark. When the least bittern points its bill 

 toward the zenith and compresses its neck feathers, it simulates 

 a broken reed, for at the same time its body is flattened and 

 ruptive marks cut it off from the neck or reed portion. In the 

 same way the waxwing simulates a dead leaf and the nighthawk 

 a branch broken off short. 



How to Attract 



Attracting birds to the house and school surroundings is of 

 value not only because insects and weed seeds are thus destroyed 

 in these places, but because of the pleasure that is derived from 

 having the birds about and from the response which they give 

 to a little kindness and protection. One of the easiest methods 

 of getting and keeping children interested in birds is to lead 

 them to make some effort to assist the birds to get a home and 

 food. When the birds come to the feeding station and become 

 tame and even eat from the hand, an instructor becomes almost 

 unnecessary. When a boy builds a bird box and a pair of blue- 

 birds nest in it, he will watch those birds and learn more than 

 from the classroom. 



1 Feeding the birds 



a Winter feeding 



One should start early putting out food so the birds will find 

 it before November, before they have established the regular 

 routes which they follow during the winter. 



(1) Putting out suet 

 insect-eating birds, like woodpeckers, nuthatches and chick- 

 adees, are fond of beef suet or oily seeds. The suet may be tied 

 to the branches or, if crows and squirrels abound, rammed into 

 holes bored in the tree or placed behind one-half inch wire netting 

 tacked to the tree. Several pieces of suet should be put out so 

 arranged that the birds will at last find one placed near the 

 window. 



Downy woodpecker at suet tied to branch Nu WpD8 

 Red-bellied woodpecker Nu WpR 



Hairy woodpecker eating suet on window 



casing Nu WpH 



Flicker Nu FkNl 



Chickadee Nu Ci 



Nuthatch Nu NuW4 



