306 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



be attributed to the work of the birds that were fed through 

 the winter. With a single exception this was the only orchard 

 in the vicinity that produced fruit that year. 



Winter birds often fare very hard ; and even if one has no 

 orchard that needs them, it is an act of kindness to supply 

 them with bits of meat or suet or nuts as may be convenient. 

 At this season, when animal life is at its lowest ebb, it is a joy 

 to see the sprightly little creatures about the house. They 

 become very tame and not infrequently alight upon the hand 

 or enter an open window for tidbits. Driven by hunger, they 

 make forays into town, and thus it is possible for those living 

 in villages or city suburbs to enjoy winter birds if they wish. 



Chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers are sure to come 

 if refuse meat or suet is tied to branches of trees, and when 

 once baited they will come to the window-sill for supplies 

 when none are to be had elsewhere, so there is the best possi- 

 ble opportunity to study them. Blue-jays will come to an ear 

 of Indian corn mounted on a stick in the orchard, and by de- 

 grees may also be led to join the house-group. Seed-eating 

 birds, such as juncos, tree-sparrows, and redpolls, will come to 

 the door-yard if a bundle of ragweed, buckwheat, a few sun- 

 flower heads, or even shallow trays of small seeds are put out. 



In order to furnish tempting food for summer birds there 

 must be more elaborate preparations. At that season food is 

 so plentiful that only the best will entice them. Even the 

 best conditions possible will fail to bring them within such 

 close range as is obtained with winter birds. Nevertheless, 

 many birds will come if one will provide for them. About 

 the only sort of food that can be offered with good effect is 

 fruit ; but of this there is such a variety both in kind and sea- 

 son that where there is a suitable area there is no difficulty 

 whatever in having an abundance of birds, particularly in 

 spring and during the late summer and autumn. 



In the selection of ornamental shrubbery for village and 

 suburban grounds the birds should be remembered. There 



