- written, hoping that it will show them where to begin. It 
may be that they want to enjoy their beauty of color, of 
form, or movements; it may be that they want to enjoy 
their songs; it may be that they realize that most birds are 
good partners to have in raising flowers, fruit, or vegetables. — 
Whatever the first cause is that prompts them, they will 
soon acquire other reasons, as they become acquainted with 
their new neighbors. | 
“Out Where the West Begins” birds may choose to be 
near man all through the year, yet he must provide attrac- 
tions to help them increase or this region will be in the same 
plight as the long-settled states where birds are decreasing — 
in number. There was a time in the East when but four 
species of wild birds would live in man-made houses: most 
men and women who grew up on farms know these birds to 
_ be the Tree Swallow, the Purple Martin, the House Wren, 
and the Bluebird; but, as increase in population has made 
harder conditions for them, other birds have learned to 
accept ready-made houses. | 
Tf the right kinds of eae and attractive dwellings 
are provided, the western winter wren, the Seattle wren, | 
the northern violet-green swallow, the flicker, the chick- | 
-adee, the phoebe, the western flycatcher, and even the 
whitebreasted nuthatch may be coaxed, in the lucky 
localities where they are to be found, into bird houses. Even 
western robins and rusty song sparrows will sometimes 
accept roofed shelters with one or all sides open, so that 
these birds may feel that freedom is theirs to enjoy when 
they want it. 
_ One busy man several years ago in Southern Oregon, 
when told by his wife that she had seen a pair of Tree 
Swallows passing through the yard, hurried to make a bird: 
box and put it up on a telephone pole. Within twenty-four 
hours the first pair of these birds that had ever been known 
to nest in that valley had taken possession of the site, and 
- now, each year brings back an increasing number of these 
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