6 THE MAKING OF BIKDCRAPT SANCTFAEY 



of our first plan, we liave a warden who keeps a day-book of all 

 happenings, and records migrants and nesting residents, is a 

 sure shot of cats, and looks out in all ways for bird welfare. 



The bungalow, begun in July, 1914, was ready for occu- 

 pancy by the middle of September. 



Stones were gathered about the grounds to build a great 

 fireplace in the committee-room, and also for the gateposts. 

 The latter were adapted by the Commuter from the design of a 

 cathedral tower ; the rose-windows in the original being replaced 

 by nesting-holes in the taller post, while the font-like cap of the 

 shorter post made a shallow bathing-place for small birds, that 

 was immediately appropriated by Wrens and Song Sparrows. 

 The gate, as well as the pergola porch of the bungalow, was 

 made of rough-hewn chestnut, the better to hold the fingers of 

 the vines with which in time the porch will be covered. 



Even before the cat-proof (is there such a thing?) fence 

 was begun, it seemed to us that here, as everywhere, the cat 

 would be the chief problem for, in spite of the presence of large 

 Iwdies of workmen, the ])lace seemed the hunting ground for all 

 the cats of the township. 



August was given to pond-making. By the first of October, 

 it was hard to lielieve that the pond had been "made" in any 

 way — so natural did it seem, — and one of its earh' records is 

 that of a visit from a Black-bellied Plover. 



On October 16, Birdcraft Sanctuary was opened to the 

 public, by holding there the afternoon session of the Annual 

 Meeting of the Connecticut Audubon Society. 



We had thought, aside from making it a haunt for birds, of 

 the Sanctuary ultimately as a place for holding of bird classes, 

 a haunt for bird photographers, and a general gathering ground 

 for nature-loving children. One month, a mid-autumn month at 

 that, caused us to change our whole plan of action. 



When guests were numerous, even the migrants vanished. 

 Many children wished to see birds, probably, when thev came, 

 but did not like the watching-and-waiting process, and found a 

 game of hide-and-seek in and out of the feeding-shelters, one 

 of Avhich is like a tepee, much more interesting. Inside of a 

 month, the visitors lacked but a few of lieing one thousand. 

 What would happen under such conditions in the sjn-ing, when 

 the outing fever lays hold upon the world? 



