14 



THE MAKING OF BIEDCKAFT SANCTUARY 



THE THRASHER ON FEEDING 

 SHELF 



Photographed by Wilbur F. Smith 



If the great annual loss of Ijird-life could be more frequent- 

 ly saved from waste by this 

 method, it would be possible to 

 form small collections for school 

 study without taking the life of 

 a single bird. 



Red-shouldered Hawks are 

 always set free when caught, as 

 the warden tinds them great 

 destroyers of rodents, and has 

 yet failed to see them harry the 

 birds. 



The Northern Shrikes, next 

 to the Sharp-shinned Hawks, 

 have proved the most ruthless 

 harriers of our winter birds in 

 the Sanctuary. They also gave 

 exhibits of their "butcher- 

 bird" habits by impaling vic- 

 tims on the barbs of the fence. 



Valuable and 



precise data on the 

 cat question has been 

 collected during these 

 three years, when 

 107 cats have been 

 taken in the enclosed 

 grounds of Birdcraft, 

 24 having worked 

 their way between 

 the barbs and over 

 the top of the "cat- 

 proof" fence! While 

 50 of these cats might 

 be classed as home- 

 less wanderers, the 

 others were well fed 

 adult cats in whom 



A ROBIN TENANT ^^!^' bird-huutiug ill- 



rri, 1 e, , t 1 ■ +1,- 1 • 1 1 f r,- -f stinct Avas so domi- 



Three (lavs after liatehmg this bird lost his wiie 



and thereafter raised the brood alone liailt that they WOuld 



Photographed by Willrar F. Smith take great rislvS tO 



