Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-02-11
THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
Woodstock, Vermont.
Printed Saturday Morning
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR
WOODSTOCK NEWS
MY BIRD RESTAURANT.
Written by Pearl e. Underwood, of
HartIand.

Written by Pearl e. Underwood, of
HartIand.
Read at the winter meeting of the State
Bird and Botanical Clubs, held at Bur-
lington, January 20 and 81.
Five or six years ago ! began tofeed
N the birds in winter. First hung
out piece of suet to attract them.
n then few crumbs and seeds were
scattered about on the ground; next
shelf was attached to the piazza
post where we placed dish filled
with seeds, nuts, crumbs and differ
ent kinds of cereals.
| became interested in the book,
81 How to Attract and Protect Wild
Birds" by Martin Hiesemann, and
from it received many ideas in
improving aud enlarging my bird
restaurant We now have long,
broad shelf fastened to the side Of
the piazza. placed where we can
reach it from the doorway of the
house A branch of dead tree is
nailed to the edge of the shelf and
\ here a piece of suet is hung At one
end of the shelf box about fooI
Ssquare is placed, one end of which is
open so the birds may enter; the top
and sides have glass to Tighten il
within. Here the seed, crumbs and
\ other food are safe from the snow
&and sleet of winter and are kept DIR.
&and unharmed by the heavy, rains.
the opposite end of the shelf a
N Npiece of wire netting is fastened Il
X protect its being approached by these
&for whom the food is not intended.
One night, however, / was awak
ened by noise which suggested
burglars, but in The dim moonhRh
/ could see dog walking abou
below the place where the shelf il
& fastened. 1t was morning before
Eould wholly solve the mystery Of IN,
nidnight marauder or learn the
havoc which he had wrought; then ]
foand on the ground the birds
fbranch and the suet was wholly cate,
;pff ! | had not really entertained al
angel unawares, but had uninten
" fionaIly given hungry dog a goo'
meal which he fully appreciated
Several times a squirrel has come t,
taste the suet and to help himself e
% few nuts; aside from these two Wis
tors my birds have been safe.
n Here / will say few words for my
&cat. He may be an exceptional one.
$but he is so we'll trained and 80 well
4 fed that he rarely catches a bird a
Aany season of the year; the WINE,
Rbirds especially he knows are not for
him He enjoys Watching them from |
3the window and if at times his eye.
have wistful expression, he is tu
WibO w CVQh Wy w IdtCh tuCih.
In the garden near by we hav,
some evergreen branches placed b
the ground to form little grove
Here the birds come for shelter an.
Ito feed ON the suet which is hun,
the re
AS | write a chick a-dee comes
the shelf; he has helped himself &,
the suet. taken shelled peanut
|his little bill and is off to nearh..
tree to enjoy eating it. The othe
birds which patronize our restanrai
|are as follows: White and re,
breasted nuthatches, blue jay
3unco, tree sparrow, hairy and
Rowny woodpeckers, and the pine
siskin. One April day after a heavy
Rnow storm song sparrow, whicI
bad inst arrived, Joined with tie
winter birds to find Seeds and o.uer
bod. When they reached the place
There our good things were set out
pr them this dear little bird was So
yercome with JOY that am sure he
imposed new song for the occa-
ION; it sounded different to me from
py other song ] had ever heard. He
png over and over again, "Aren't
e having happy time"
Early one morning northern
hrike stopped in the evergreen
Fove, but only for minute to take
short rest.
Il has been argued that birds be-
pme spoiled by artificial feedingI
ARnd no longer do their work in
ature's household. but DR.. Liebe
hys: birds end bat pb6r sub