The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-05-21
PUTTING UP BIRD HOUSES.

In my last article dimensions of
nesting boxes were given. This one
gives directions for putting them up.
These directions are not arbitrary,
but merely suggestive.
The chickadee seems TO prefer low
nesting place, but one pair occupied a
knot-hole sixty feet up in limb of an
elm. Nesting boxes made at least
twice as high as the width, with a
u inch entrance, and placed from 6
to 10 feet from the ground are more
likely to be occupied by bluebirds, if
they have some choice, than are cot
tage shaped bird houses, placed high
er on poles or roofs. Such bird houses
have a greater attraction for tree
swallows than for bluebirds, but either
bird may use box or house put up
for the other. Wrens or chickadees
may take buebird or swallow box,
but neither swallows or bluebirds can
take wren or chickadee boxes if the
entrances are only just large enough
to admit the latter birds. The Ma
tional Association of Audubon Socie-
ties has recently published a bulletin
on attracting birds about the home
in which different kinds of nesting
boxes and bird houses are illustrated
for the benefit of those who wish to
make them.
If the nesting box has an entrance
hole placed high up under roof or
cover projecting over the hole at least
two inches it may face in any direc-
ton, particularly if it leans a little
forward, for then neither sun nor rain
is likely to penetrate much into the in
terror. If the box has not these ad-
vantages it should never face the
northeast or the south, as cold rains
and hot sun are fatal to fedgelings.
1t is well not TO have the bottom of
the box too tight, that rain if ii drives
in may run out,
Ventilation is desirable and this may
be obtained by boring two small holes
in each Of the two opposite sides of
the box high up under the overhang-
ing roof and stopping them with corks
until the young birds have hatched
when the corks may be removed.
Martin houses may be put up late
in May with some hope of getting
martins, as at that time most of the |
English sparrows and bluebirds have
made their nests, and the young mar
tins which do not nest until late in
the season may settle in the new mar
tin houses. Such houses should never A.
be placed on or very near trees, but
should be upon poles IL or Is feet |
high or higher. The pole may be
placed on the ground or on the roof |
Of building. Chicago people have
started successful martin colonies in
bird houses set up on the roofs of
city blocks. Success is likely here if
the English sparrows can be kept out.
A river valley in a farming country is
a fayorite spot for martins. The en-
trance holes for martins should be
large and near the floors Of the rooms,
the rooms about eight inches square.
Bird houses placed on poles are Of
ten preferred by the birds because
cats and squirrels do not trouble
them so much as when the boxes are
placed on trees. Thorny vines or
bushes may be planted and trained
,lose about the poles TO keep of cats
Or the pole may be made Of iron pipes
With fiange at the top on which the
bird house may be screwed. A wide
sheet Of zinc tackled around the pole
ike a tight sleeve or set under the
bird house like hat brim will keep
ats or squirrels from any bird house
vet on wooden pole. Where cats, I
squirrels and English sparrows are
numerous the chances are that very {
'ew young birds will be raised as they
sill either be killed in the house or /
.aught on the ground before they are
lble 10 fly well
EDWARD HOWE FoRBUSH.