8 THE A UD BON Bi aelaee 
Planting for the Birds 
EXTRACTS FROM THE 
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA SERVICE BULLETIN 
OF MARCH 28, 1925 
O other group of animals commands such widespread and uni- 
versal attention as birds; everyone is more or less interested in 
them. Why is this so? 
“In the first place, with the exception of insects, birds are the most 
common form of animal life about us. Approximately 600,000 species of 
animals are known to science. Something like 18,000 kinds of birds alone 
are found in the world; about 1,200 different kinds are recorded from 
North America and of these approximately 350 occur in Iowa,’”—and 
about 400 in I]linois.—‘‘ Not only is the number of species large, but also 
the number of individuals is considerable. Competent authorities esti- 
mate that there are in the United States 3,800,000,000 nesting birds of 
all kinds and that, in addition, 3,800,000,000 more birds pass through 
the United States in their migratory journey. Such an abundance of an 
active, graceful, beautiful and interesting type of animal life, many forms 
of which are further attractive to us by reason of their vocal ability, can 
not be easily overlooked. 
“Moreover, birds offer unusual opportunities for cultivating the powers 
of observation as well as for purposes of study and recreation. In addi- 
tion, they are desirable about our homes and on our farms for the 
economic benefits which they confer. They are man’s only natural allies 
in the continuous warfare which he must wage against injurious weeds, 
mammals, and, above all, insects. 
“The old idea that only three or four of our birds, the house wren, the 
bluebird, and the purple martin, commonly grouped as ‘house birds,’ 
could be induced to remain in the vicinity of human habitations has been 
dispelled. It has been shown that if suitable nesting and feeding condi- 
tions are offered, many other species will avail themselves of even the 
slightest encouragement. Some of these that can and should be induced 
to feed and nest about our homes are the following: kingbird, great 
crested flycatcher, phoebe, black-capped chickadee, tufted titmouse, 
white-breasted nuthatch, song sparrow, chipping sparrow, cardinal, 
American goldfinch, Baltimore oriole, rose-breasted grosbeak, tree swal- 
low, barn swallow, brown thrasher, catbird, robin, wood thrush, red- 
headed, downy and hairy woodpeckers, sparrow hawk and screech owl. 
“Besides these, fifteen or twenty other species can, without much effort, 
be induced to favor us with their presence for at least a greater share of 
