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3-25-32 



A good comfortable, safe place to nest, and a good safe place to 

 drinlc and "bathe, and then sosaething to eat. Plenty of food just before 

 and during the nesting season tendr to increase the nur.ber of eggs, and 

 also the number of broods in a season, Well, there are two ways you can 

 supply food. One fta-y is just to put food out in artificial devices where 

 the birds can get to it readily, Tliat is most important in Yd.nter, but as 

 Mr, McAtee remarlcs, winter feeding easily passes into sTonr.-.er feeding, and 

 sone birds gladly avail themselves throughout the year of that easy way of 

 getting a living. 



Another way of supplying bird food is by cultivating their natural 

 food plants and letting then reap the harvest in their own way. Less has 

 been done along that line for the true seed-eating birds than for those 

 fond of pulpy fruits. The reason for that is that our seed-eating birds 

 patronize v/eeds, which v/e do not care about cultivating, while the fruit 

 eaters depend upon many plants v/hich v/e cultivate anyway for their value 

 as ornaments. 



The United States Department of Agriculture will supply you with 

 information about plants that can be used to attract both seed-eating and 

 fruit-eating birds. 



With plenty of food and water, and a good safe place to stay, wliy 

 wouldn't the birds be attracted? 



Of course, making the birds safe from their enemies is the prime 

 requisite for increasing the nur.iber of the birds. If you want to establish 

 a real bird sanctuary on your place, Mr. McAtee says the most effectual 

 single step is to stirround your bird refuge with a good cat-proof fence, 

 one that can't be climbed, or dug under. 



In case it is impractical for you to build an impenetrable fence to 

 protect the birds, the next best tiling is to put guards of sheet metal on 

 all nesting trees and on poles supx^rting bird houses. You should do that 

 any^vay, if there is any danger of squirrels or snakes. It is seldom you can 

 fence out squirrels or snalces. Put the tree guards on 5 feet or more above 

 the ground. 



If you v^mt birds for their songs or service in keeping down insects, 

 you can probably get tha.i by following a few simple rules in providing pro- 

 tection, their favorite foods, and lodging. 



Di « >|t :(( )|c * * )tc :(i 



AiriTOUITGEMIlTT ; That bulletin on homes for birds is Farraors Bulletin No. 1456, 

 and can be had free as long as the supply lasts. Write for it either to 

 this station or direct to the United States Department of Agricult\arc, at 

 Was-ungton, D. C. 



