18 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
Prof. C. F. Hodge of Worcester, Mass., who has in three years 
been able to show an increase of JOO}? 2 in the native bird popula- 
tion of a city block. 
The initial step in this work is to provide conditions adapted 
to the wants of birds. Mr Forbush states,1 “that such a place 
should be so situated as to provide shelter from cold northerly 
winds and storms. It must be well watered, and should be pro- 
vided with small patches of coniferous trees, and wind breaks 
Oi WSS, Shrblos Aine! Vuncs, Ilan Siroyes Ol PilNES Or OUNEF 
conifers are not particularly desirable as they provide nesting 
places for crows, jays, hawks and other enemies of small birds. 
It should have a great diversity of vegetation, including a variety 
of fruit-bearing plants. A portion of the land should be wooded. 
If there are too many trees, they may be cut in much less time 
than it takes to grow them; and those trees, shrubs and vines 
that are especially attractive to birds may be left. It is well to 
leave some dead trees or dead limbs in which the woodpeckers 
can breed, for, unless these birds can be induced to nest about 
the farm, the trees will suffer from many insidious insect foes.” 
Mr Forbush mentions white oaks, white or gray birch, the 
common gray alder, elms, pines, larches and hemlocks as being 
most attractive to various birds. He also gives in the above 
cited volume a rather long list of fruit-bearing trees, shrubs and 
vines furnishing food for birds. 
Attracting and feeding the native winter birds is another line 
of effort productive of much pleasure and at the same time of 
considerable practical importance. It has been stated, for ex- 
ample, that a pear orchard in New York State, badly infested 
by psylla, was practically cleared of the pest by nuthatches 
~hich worked in the orchard all winter. Many valuable insect- 
ivorous birds will remain about the farm if only slight provision 
is made for their comfort. Mr Forbush states that sparrows 
prefer some shelter such as thickets and tangles of deciduous 
bushes and“trees and will even take refuge in brush piles. A 
little chaff scattered about the door, after a snow fall, is very 
attractive to these birds. He states that certain winter birds 
readily take shelter in sheds or even in poultry scratching sheds 
protected by ordinary 2 inch wire mesh. The birds are safe in 
these latter retreats from both cats and hawks. Mr Forbush 
recommends as winter food for birds, chaff from barn floors, 
—— 
*t907_ Forbush, E. H. Useful Birds and their Protection, p. 372. 
