Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-15
BIRD MUSIC
AT The DOOR
How to Coax the Feathered Vo-
caEsts to Settle In Orchard or
Garden, Where They Will
Rout Insect Hosts.

- PRING Is so close at hand that
~ the housewives thoughts turn
A happily to anticipation Of COM
~ ing good times in the outdoor
world, Of pleasant Jaunts In the woods
and satisfying hours spent in her gar
den.
In most country places those harbin-
gers of spring. the birds, are hopping
about the bare trees, picking up pre-
carlous living as yet. but cheerful and
hopeful In spite Of hard times.
The best friends Of the birds are wo'
men. The ranks of those that revel In
aigrets and humming birds skins for
tunately grow yearly smaller as edu'
cation Is extended and women under
stand that the lovely plumage on their
hats means a mother cruelty slaugh-
tered and feathered babies left orphan
ed and starving,
The most efficient bird protector is
the home woman who loves the merry
songsters for themselves. No one can
more thoroughly awaken public senti-
ment in favor Of protecting the birds In
her nelghborhOod than the woman who
loves and knows them. She can talk
to the children about them; she can dis
courage neighbors who are thinking Of
buying their boy that dangerous toy,
an air gun; she can interest the girls In
her Sunday school class, the ladies' who
belong to her church society or wo-
mans club If the laws for the prOtec-
ton Of birds are not being enforced In
her neighborho0d she can drop q hint
to the authorities about this, State
fish and game commissions and the
United States department Of agricul-
ture, which are keenly alive to the
value Of the birds to the farming inter
ests Of the country, are doing their
best to awaken the people, and the
state authorities are usually glad Of q
hint where their forces might do more
effective work. Audubon societies all
over the country and the national socl'
ETY., with its headquarters In New York
are glad to supply suggestions for the
formation of new bird clubs or give
helpful hints for either bird study Of
bird protection.
Bird boxes put up in the trees about
the house, bird fountains and feeding
troughs or boards will attract many
birds.
The nesting boxes may be made by
the handy boys Of the family. Al
empty starch or salt box with hole
cut in the wooden lid and perchint
pole tacked outside the little dool
makes one Of the simplest homes. Al
empty tin can nailed to tree witt
the open end out will attract tenants,
Robin loves the cherry tree, and 81
does the jaunty catbird, but the cherr!
tree will be free from insects wher'
the catbirds and robins live, and ther'
are ways Of circumventing these feath
cred gormands Of the cherries. On
is by getting up early and picking tn
| NutAllto btlOlN lhNJ ANhNh Nh"h '''H
Of ripeness at which the birds prefe
to take them. II hedges Of wild beT
rles are planted for the benefit Of tn
birds they will pay less attention t
the orchard fruits,
Many birds prefer hollow tree 70
a home. and If you have one of thes
on the premises let it stay unless 1t
too unsightly Your reward will b
the sight Of many happy twitterin
birds around your doorstep aud
CHEEKY song outside your windows /
r the morning and in the evening.
8 Birds are so useful to the farmer
that farmers wives have everywher
. been the most enthusiastic and INTEL
}, gent members Of local bird club
They know from observation what
$ few Of the little creatures can do
D rout the insects that prey on ever
r green thing about the premises.
:. Better an Easter bird in the treetop
e than an Easter bird upon hat is the