The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-02-08
HELP bob WHITE"

F. c. KirkwOOd Tells How to Save Par
tridges Snow Causes Them to Starve-
How to Build a Shelter With But Lit
tie Trouble.
Farmers in all parts of Cecil county,
are asked to help save Bob White
from starvation during the cold winter
weather. and when the ground is cover
ed with snow. During cold weather
birds suffer greatly, and none more. per-
hapS, than the quail.
The partridge suffers especially because
he is Il ground feeder" or bird whose
food consists of morscls picked up from
the earth.
When the snow is several inches deep
upon the ground, the partridge is hard
put to obtain enough to keep life in his
body This has been realized for lons
time by hunters and those who Sympath-
iZc with dumb creatures, and in recent
years there have been united efforts in
many sections to improve the conditions
of birds during the winter. and this has
resulted in the building of shelters. par
ticularly for partridgcs. That this has
done much good in preserving the game
is declared by hundreds of SportSmcn
GO TO FARM HOUSES FOR FOOD.
The heavy snow Of the past week has
caused much suffering among the par
tridgcS. as is proved by the reports from
the various counties stating that they
In, ii.
come unusually tame in their efforts to
find feed. During the blizzard of 1898
thousands of game birds were killed in
the section affected by the storm. and the
supply was SO reduced that in some
places it became necessary to prohibit
all hunting for from one to three years.
y similar condition of affairs is liable to
happen during the present winter if the
ground is covered long enough with snow
and SpOrtSmrn are anxious to see that
he farmers do something to preserve
their game.
One of those particularly Interested in
he subject because of his love of hunt
ing and knowledge of ornthology. is Mr..
+. &. Kirkwood, who was for some time
secretary of the Game and Fish Protrr-
tive Association. and has made Il careful
study of all the birds in this section. MIR.
Ilrkwooi said Monday:
SIMPLE STRUCTURE SUFFTCES.
Every man who owns place in th"
country should do something To protect
his parIrid@cS during Il season such ~.
"" are now having The partridge. be-
ing ground feeder suffers intensely
Ii>s
inches of snow. and if something is not
don" for Them many will Starvc to death
or become - weak that they will fall an
easy prey To hawks. owls and other pre-.
datury birds. 1t is tn" duty of every
man who takes an interest in birds to
build some sort Of shelter for them dur
Ing these SHOWS.
"Tu build such Il shelter requires only
= couple of hours work. and it will hc
well repaid. The simplest of all stmrc-
lures is to stick four props in the ground.
about ~ far apart a& the length of Il
Fence rail ana about foot above TIE
-rolnd. ON these props place fence rails
'nl across the four rails lay about five
ur six others. Fill in the rest Of this
roof with corn stalks. hay or any thiu,:
of this sort. by this means You get Il
space of about 10 feet square beneath Il
low roof.
Then build further shelter on the
side most exposed To- the winter wind.
which will hc the north. or northwest
| side. IN order to keep the snow fruml
drifting in on the birds This wall should
| not cover more than one side. because. If
| ii does. when Il stray cat or weasel OF
mink happens to stray into the shelter.
i; can get tn" birds into Il corner ana XII
many of them. while if three sides ara
| left Open. they can easily rscap" N The
| iii>; evidence of danger. which pHltridyn~
',r" quick to appreciate, even III night.
BEFORE THE STORM Is BEST.
THE ground below ihc shelter should
| lac cleaned of SNOW before the shelter is
| hnilt, if the snow has already fallen. bat
| the best plan is to build it before th'
winter sets in. In the space prepared for
| tn" birds should he placed about half 4
bnShcl of corn though amy kind of fa2n
seed, such rs wheat, grass seeds. oats or
| barley. will DO and will be highly npprc-
| ciatrd.
Not only will partrid@cs take advan-
tag" of such n shelter. but ii will be-