Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-04-27
FEATHERED TENANTS
HOW TO PREPARE HOMES FOE
THE SPRING BIRDS.
1t Is Easy to Have Number of Will
Songsters About Us If We Offer
Them Suitable Quar-
ters

Although the severity of the mas.
winter has caused the death of man,
thousands of birds throughout tn,
country, it is not unlikely. | think
that the disaster may prove a bIessin,
IN disguise. Great numbers of peopl,
VINO never before gave a thought t.
the comforts of birds at anv season
mad their attention called to their sui
terlng feathered neighbors, hastenet
te give them relief, and thus becam,
enthusiastic bird-lovers. The schoo
children were especially enthusiastic
anu many OF them wrote to the Audi
Don societies pledgi2g themselves Il,
teed the birds for the remainder of TIN
winter. A letter from little Indian;
school girl is a fair sample. She said
l, one Of number of willing schoo
children, am most anxious to assist til,
N your charitable work of feeding tn,
BIRDS L never thought of such thin,
as our wild birds starving, To be sur
was great shock to hear it, and
shall set about at once to remedy m,
shameful neglect. Every morning
set OUT food for the birds around MI
home, but never thinking that tn.
via birds, our best singers, are starv
ing. L live but a few blocks from thu
open country, and you may be sure tn,
birds shall not suffer that pass owe,
here hereafter I can climb most a,
we'll as any boy. and though it MAJ
seem an undignified act for a girl [,
be perched up in a tree, / shall do
nevertheless for the sake of my feath
cred friends"
AS spring approaches, those VIII.
have had host of feathered visitor.
in their yards and gardens will doubt
less feel more or less disappointed a
seeing their guests depart for tn.
woods and fields and for their home
in the north. But this is the time t.
make preparations for receiving othe
bird guests, many of them even nov
on their way from the south. Thes
birds are coming north to seek home;
in which to rear their Young: they
VIII certainly nest somewhere, and il
we can give them the conditions the,
require, they are as likely to remain
III our gardens as anywhere else Tit
climatic conditions of course we can
not control. but we can control mos
OF the others to greater or less ex
tent. First of all, if We would have
bird tenants, we must provide then
with suitable nesting sites, and to be-
suitable they must above all thing
be safe. 1t is quite unfair to encour
age birds TO nest on our premises ant
then allow them to be molested b,
cats, dogs or even children.
The greater the number and variet,
of suitable bird houses we have ready
when the birds begin to arrive. the
greater number of tenants we NAV
hope to retain. For the bluebirds we
may have many styles of homes ready
for occupancy. Neat boxes may be
nailed against the house or barn. de
cayed stumps which have been hol
lowed out by woodpeckers may b,
brought from the woods and set up il
the garden, or holes may be bored il
an old clubhouse, and boxes or tin cans
nailed UP inside. Similar preparation.
may be made for the house wren
though, being smaller bird. smalle!
accommodations will answer. If ",
do not cut down all the decayed tree,
on the premises. we may possibly hav,
woOdpeckerS, nuthatches. and ever
chickadees and creepers for tenants.
If we put up a gooi-sized bird hous
with several openings and apartments
on the top of pole % or 80 feet high
we shall tempt the sweet-voiced purpl,
martins if there happen to be any il
our part of the country.
II we are living in our own home
we may enjoy the delights of plannin;
permanent bird garden. There w,
can not only make use of all sorts O
artificial nesting sites but we cal
make natural ones by planting sucl !
trees and shrubs and creepers a: |
birds delight to build in. Nor mus |
we neglect the question of food, !; |
most important one at all seasons |
A mulberry tree on the premises is |
great attraction for many species O |
birds, some of which eat the fruit it
self, and others the insects attracted
by the berries. Choke cherry tree,
are also useful in a bird garden. a.
are also mountain ash trees, jumpers
pines and spruces. Burberry bushes
blackberries, raspberries
sumaeh. bittersweet and a score q
other shrubs, all bear fruit which at
tract birds of one kind or another
while columbines, larkspurs, trumpe
creepers, saliva and many other flow
erS will act like magnets on the ruby
throated hummingbird. Water SHOULD
of course be present in such a garden
and in generous quantities: enough
not only for drinking but for bathing
Running water is best. but where THU