PLANTING NOW FOR BIRDS THE YEAR THROUGH 



IRDS — long appreciated for their joy-giving song and 

 the note of brilliant life they bring to the garden — 

 have come to be recognized as tireless allies of the gar- 

 dener in his perennial struggle against insect and 

 plant enemies. They are indispensable spokes in the 

 economic cycle, important factors in preserving a normal 

 balance; and wherever there is a dearth of birds, insects and 

 plant disease become rampant. Hence, it behooves the gar- 

 dener, when making his plans, to remember these small feathered 

 helpers and to encourage their friendship. 



It is quite possible to find a considerable number of trees, 

 shrubs, and vines which are distinctly decorative in character 

 and which by reason of their berries, fruits, or cones are dis- 

 tinctly alluring to the bird as well. It is also true that in locali- 

 ties where wild fruit is plentiful the cultivated crops are less 

 frequented by feathered visitors, so that it is often wise to plant 

 .Mulberries and Shad-bushes to draw them away from your 

 Strawberries and Cherries, or Elders and Virginia Creeper to 

 protect your Grapes. 



WATER is a very important feature in any garden plan, for 

 not only does it supply a definite want but it often actually 

 serves as a measure of plant preservation. Many birds, it is 

 believed, seek fleshy fruits primarily for the water they contain 

 rather than for sustenance . 



Bird baths should be shallow, with a rim easy to perch upon, 

 and a shelving slope that the bird may navigate in comfortable 

 security. Some combination bath-and-fountain affairs appear 

 to be specially designed to drown their trusting visitants. 



During the summer season, under normal conditions, nature 

 provides amply for her various dependents, but wherever the 

 encroachments of man have altered the balance, supplementary 

 planting is necessary. In winter it is imperative if we expect 

 the birds to continue to inhabit our gardens and grounds; and 

 winter is the season when we most need the cheer of their pres- 

 ence — they keep the garden alive! 



Many of these little garden guests come and go with the 

 seasons though quite a number linger the year round where con- 

 ditions are to their liking. Fall offers ideal opportunity for 

 setting out most trees, shrubs, and vines; here are some which 

 find favor with the birds and add interest to any planting: 



I. FOR SUMMER FOOD SUPPLY 



Blueberry (Vaccinium) for catbird, cedarbird, crow, grouse, 



jay, kingbird, robin, sparrow, woodpecker. 

 Barberry (Berberis) for cedarbird, crow, grouse, kingbird, 



quail, robin, sparrow, woodpecker. 

 Brambles (Rubus) for blackbird, bluebird, jay, robin, sparrow. 

 Cherry and Plum (Prunus) for blackbird, catbird, cedarbird, 



crow, grosbeak, jay, kingbird, oriole, robin, thrasher, 



warbler, waxwing, woodpecker. 

 Choke-berry (Aronia) for finch, grosbeak, jay, junco. 

 Dogwood (Cornus in species) for blackbird, bluebird, catbird, 



cedarbird, chickadee, crow, grosbeak, jay, junco, oriole, 



quail, sparrow, swallow, thrasher, vireo, woodpecker. 

 Elder (Sambucus) for blackbird, bluebird, catbird, cedarbird, 



chickadee, crow, grosbeak, jay, junco, oriole, quail, robin, 

 sparrow, swallow, thrasher, vireo, woodpecker. 



Grape (Vitis) for blackbird, cedarbird, crow, grouse, jay, quail, 

 robin, sparrow, swallow thrasher, woodpecker. 



Nettle Tree (Celtis occidentalis) for blackbird, bluebird, 

 cedarbird, crow, robin, woodpecker. 



Red Mulberry (Moms rubra) for blackbird, bluebird, bobo- 

 link, catbird, cedarbird, crow, cuckoo, grosbeak, grouse, 

 jay, kingbird, oriole, phoebe, quail, robin, sparrow, tanager, 

 thrasher, vireo, woodpecker. 



Shad-bush (Amelanchier) for blackbird, bluebird, cardinal, 

 cedarbird, crow, finch, grackle, grosbeak, grouse, jay, oriole, 

 robin, tanager, woodpecker. 



Spice-bush (Benzoin aestivale) grouse, quail, sparrow, wood- 

 pecker. 



Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) for catbird, jay, quail, robin, thrasher, 

 woodpecker. 



Virginia Creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia) for blue bird, 

 chickadee, crow, grouse, kingbird, quail, robin, sparrow, 

 woodpecker. 



II. AFFORDING FOOD IN WINTER 



Honeysuckle (Lonicera) for finch, grosbeak, jay, junco. 



Mountain Ash (Sorbus) for bluebird, cedarbird, finch, gros- 

 beak, grouse, robin, sparrow, woodpecker. 



Snowberry and Indian Currant (Symphoricarpos) finch, 

 grosbeak, jay, junco. 



Sumac (Rhus) for blackbird, bluebird, cardinal, catbird, cedar- 

 bird, chickadee, crow, grackle, grosbeak, grouse, jay, 

 kingbird, quail, robin, sparrow, swallow, thrasher, vireo, 

 warbler, woodpecker. 



Thorn (Crataegus) for crow, grouse, jay, robin. 



Viburnum (any variety except americanum) for bluebird, cedar- 

 bird, crow, grouse, quail, robin, sparrow, thrasher, warbler, 

 woodpecker. 



Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) for bluebird, crow, quail, robin, 

 woodpecker. 



III. EVERGREENS THAT FURNISH FOOD 



American Holly (Ilex opaca) for bluebird, crow, quail, robin, 



woodpecker. 

 Burning Bush and Spindle Tree (Evonymus) for bluebird, 



robin, sparrow, woodpecker. 

 Canadian Hemlock (Tsuda canadensis) for crossbill, grosbeak, 



siskin. 

 Red Cedar (Juniperus) for bluebird, cedarbird, chickadee, 



finch, grosbeak, kingbird, phoebe, quail, robin, sparrow, 



thrush, warbler, woodpecker. 

 Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) for cedarbird, finch, 



grosbeak, junco. 



Editor's Note: // is manifestly impossible in the limited 

 space at our disposal to tell the reader all he might care to know 

 in this connection, hut anyone sufficiently interested to investigate 

 further on his own account will find the hooks listed on page 116 

 reliable and very accessible sources of information. 



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