Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-11-30

Ii is coming 10 be afairly freqnens .
sight iu Eau Claire to see bird Ia
bles erected in the yards. or fasten-
ed to trees On the boulevards Ia
front OF the homes, and spread daily
with food for the birds. Cracked
corn, cracked nuts. hay-seed
crumbs and table scraps. bits OF
msat. especially sues. and b dish 81
water are on the daily bill OF fare.
Besides the benefit to the birds,
work of this kind, when undertak-
en- by the pupils OF the schools, has
al educational value that cannot ba
overestimated. Il means the de-
velopment of humane tendencies,
and q training In systematic obser-
vation aud the acquiring OF q fund Of
birdlore that cannot fail to prove a
constant source OF pleasure later in
life.
Many inquiries have come to the
writer as to how to make and main.
tain these bird tables. The follow
ing practical suggestions are there
fore given for the use OF all interest
ed in this phase Of humane work:
A board. six inches wide and two
feet long. should be fastened to q
tree; or on q high post out OF the
reach OF cats; or against q conven-
lent window sill. One trouble that
will Immediately present itself is
the English sparrow. 1t will be
difficult to keep these little nuisan-
ces away from the lunch counter.
One would like to be merciful and
let them feed with the others, were
it not for increasing the troubles OF
springtime nesting.
A suggestion that the writer re.
ceived from one OF the Audubon So
cieties in a small town. and that is
reported to have worked well, is
worth trying:
A board the usual size'is hinged
at one end to window-sill in such
way as to allow the outer end OF
the board to drop. The board is
he'd about level by a string fastsn.
I'd to its outer end and 20 the top OF
the window. In this string,-that
is, forming part of it.-a thin or
light spiral spring is fastened. The
food and water dishes are placed at
the outer end of the board. When
a bird alights. the feeding board
teeters up ard down. The report
states that other birds will feed AZ
the table. but that the English spar
row will not visit Ii second time.
II this simple scheme is effective in
dealing with the English sparrow,
then one of the problems OF bird
lovers has been solved.
II the lunch counter proves attrac-
tive. and it undou btedly will, manv
birds may be studied at close range
Among the visitors will be the chick
adee, the red breasted nuthatch.
white breasted nuthatch. downy and
hairy wood -peckers. blue jay. junco.
and an occasional robin.
Some birds. who are accustomed
to search for their food close 10 the
ground. are not SO likely to fiud the
'aole.-notably the juncos; the
white-throated sparrows: the white
crowned and the tree sparrows.
For these birds q better way is 10
spade up bit Of ground, i: the frost
is sufficiently out; or keep it clear
OF snow if there are late storms, and
place the food upon il.
All winter birds must have a good
supply Of heat-producing food. Most
OF them are very fond OF suet, and
the best way to furnish it Is to fast
en- a piece about three inches long
to the trunk OF q tree near the
house
The observations by the pupils
will be OF greater value II they are
required to give systematic reports
OF their work.-Our Dumb Animals.