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

It is coming 20 be o fairly frequent
sight 10 Eau Claire TO see bird. "a
bles erected in the yards. or fasten.
ed TO trees on the boulevards ID
front Of the homes. and spread daily
with food for the birds. Cracked
corn, cracked nuts. hay-ssed
crumbs and table scraps, bits oil
meat. especially sues. and Q dish OF
water are on the daily bill OF fare.
Besides ,he benefit to tho birds,
work OF this kind. when undertak-
en- by the pupils OF the schools, has
an educational value that cannot be
overestimased. IL means the de-
velopment Of humane tendsucies,
and training In systematic obser-
vation aud the acquiring OF fund oil
birdlore that cannot fail to prove q
constant source Of pleasure later in
life.
Many inquiries have come TO the
writer as TO how 10 make and main
tain these bird, tables. The follow
ing practical suggestions are there
fore given for the use OF oil interest
ed in this phase of humane work:
A board. six inches wide and two
feet long. should be fastened 70 a
tree; or on q high post out OF the
reach of cats; or against a conven.
lent window-sill. One trouble that
will Immediately present itself is
the English sparrow. Il 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
IL 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 tho usual size is hinged
at one end to window sill ia such
a way as to allow the outer end OF
the board TO drop. The board is
held about level by a string fsstsn-
ed to its outer end and TO the top OF
the window. In this string,-that
is. forming part of it,-a thin or
liOht sy,irol ey,~i-vSc f.~soneu. Ioe
food and water dishes are placed at
the outer end of the board. When
bird alights. the feeding board
teeters up and down. The report
states shat other birds will feed ct
the table, but that the English spar
row will not visit it Q 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, many
birds may be studied at close range
Among the visitors will be the chick
sdee, 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 TO the
ground. are not so likely to find the
'a5le.-notably the juncos; the
white-throated sparrows: the white
crowned and the tree sparrows.
For these birds better way is to
spade up bit Of ground, 1.-THE frost
is sufficiently out; or keep it clear
OF snow II there are late storms, and
place the food upon it.
All winter birds must have a good
supply Of ofhest-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 IL they are
required TO give systematic reports
Of their work.-Our Dumb Animals.