eligi oe Ue OC Newbee ty Bele lIN ( 
are in prospect for the future and may wipe out segments of our fauna 
and possibly flora, also. 
While the results herein noted at the rates applied show no losses to 
birds and mammals, the breaking up of food chains through suppression 
of insects and cold-blooded vertebrates may have serious indirect conse- 
quences. Little is yet known of the accumulated effects traceable to DDT, 
particularly in bird nesting seasons, or the resulting shift of bird and 
mammal populations. 
Intensive research is needed to answer these questions. The present 
whole-hearted cooperation of biologists, entomologists and public health 
officials, is a healthy sign that technicians are working together to the end 
that a useful chemical may perform benefits for the human race, and at 
the same time preserve those forms of life which we all enjoy and cherish. 
“ ff a 
Band Bluebirds by the Thousands if You Wish* 
By Dr. T. E. MUSSELMAN 
WINTER’S COLD is scarcely gone before bluebirds employ each south wind to 
return to their favored Northland. Forty years of records show the 
average date of spring returns to be the third week in February. From 
high in the air comes the faint, ventriloqual call of the traveling pairs; 
and by the first week in March nearly every fence post sports its inquisi- 
tive blue-backed renter. 
Many years ago local bird students were aware that few bluebirds 
remained in Adams County. There was no place to nest. A spring survey 
revealed but three nests, and one of those was an exposed site in the side of 
a post where a limb had split out a shallow open cavity. I decided to build 
a few suitable houses and nail them on posts along the highways, and by 
selecting the nest of a downy woodpecker and modeling my dimensions 
somewhat after those of this woodpecker’s home I was able to develop a 
neat box, attractive to bluebirds. The entrance was one inch and a half, 
often filed irregularly larger. The interior was eight inches deep and 
about 34%x3%. For birdbanders with large hands I advise a somewhat 
larger interior. 
The first year I built several dozen boxes which I placed on fence posts 
along Route 96 between Quincy and Hamilton. The success of the venture 
was immediately evident as by April first practically every box was 
acecupied, and during the year there was a succession of families. Most 
of the boxes had two nests; several had three; and one acted as host to 
four different families. The nests are very similar in structure, being built 
largely of dry blue grass. Occasionally there are decorations, such as a 
chewing gum paper, chicken feathers, or even snail shells. Only once in 
1945 did a bluebird show the characteristic thrush habit of holding the nest 
together with mud. A banded mother plastered the loose grass ends to the 
*This paper, prepared by Dr. Musselman, was read at the Chicagoland Bird- 
banding Conference, March 23, 1946. 
