The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-05-20
PUTTING UP sla0 HOUSES
t4o~ 70 Build Them Fer Eseh Psrtie
ular Species

49,
IN mo last article dimensions of
nesting boxes we-e giVen- This one
gives directions Tor putting them 10.
These directions are no. arbitrary but
merely suggestive.
The chicadee. seems 10 prefer
lox nesting plaoe. hui one pair 0c-
CAPPED a knot hole siNiy feet az la .
Mmb OF an elm. Nesting boxes made
a. least twice a. hish as the width
with a H. inch entrance. and placed
from 20 10 feet from the g.ound
are more likely 10 De occupied By
bluebirds if they have sons choice
than are cottage shaped bird houses,
placed higher ON poles or roofs.
Such bard HOUSES have a greater al
action for Tree swallows than for
biuebirds. bu; ei.her bird may use
BOX or house put up for the othe
Wrens 81 chicadees mas take blue
bird or swallow box. but neither swal
lows o. bmebiras can take wren OF
chicadee boxes II the entrances are on
Is just large enough TO admit the lat
Ter birds. The National Association OF
Audobon Societies has recently pub
llshod a bulletin on attracting birds
about the homo In which different
kinds OF bird houses and nesting box
as are illusi atcd for those who wish
tc make them.
n the nesting box has an entrance
hole placed high up under a roof or
cover projecting over the hole at
icas; two inches IL may face in any
direction. particularly II II leans
little forward. Tor neither sun nor
rain is likely to penetrate much Into
,he interior II the box has not these
Advantages Il should never face the
northeast or the south. as cold raias
and hot sun are fatal 10 fcdgliags
!, is well not TO have tho boitum &C
the DO TO tight. that rain II Il drives
in may run out
Ventilation Is desirable and this
may be obtained by boring two
small holes ia each of the two or
positc sides OF tho box high mp under
the oycrhgnging roof aud stopping
them with corks until the Young
bids have haichcd When the corks
may be removed.
Martin houses ma, be- pui w hate
in MAY with some hope OF getting
martins. as at that time mos. Of the
English sparrows and hlucbirds have
made their nests. and the young mar
tins which do not nest until lac In
the season may settle in the new
Martin houses. Such houses should
never be placed on or very meas
trees but should be upon poles ~ or
rs feet high or higher. The pole may
be placed on The ground or on the
roof of a building Chicago people
have started successful martin colon
les in bid houses set up on the roofs
OF city blocks. Success Is likely nc q
il the English sparrows can be kept
! ou;. A river valley in farming
country is a fayorite spot for martins
The entrance holes for ma tins
should be large and near the floors OF
the rooms. the rooms about eight
inches square.
Bird houses placed on poles are
often preferred BY the birds because
cas- and squirrels do not trouble
them so much as when the boxes are
placed on trees. Thorny vines ar
bushes may be planted and trained
close about the poles to keep OFF cats
or the pole may be made OF ircn
pipes with a flange at the top ON
which the bid house may he screw.
cd. a wide sheet OF zinc tackled
around the pole Ike a5tight sleeve OF
set under the bird house ike hat
brim will keep eats or squirrels from
any bird house So. on wooden pole.
Where cats. SPUR els and English
sparrOws are numerous the chances
are that very few young birds viii be
raised as they will either be killed
in the house or oanght ON the ound
before they are able 10 nv we'll
u.