Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-18

us in varying numbers throupb tho ..,...
meadow larks-their yellow breasts yeilsI
with orownish-fush from the river marshe
In compact flocks, feeding there in the rnoas,|
open ground and along the water courses nm
I'll the return OF spring makes 1t possible al
them to scatter back over the uplands.
Purple graclSles or "blackbirds," in smai|
numbers often remain in their autumn roosts|
Il small garrison left by the great herd tha |
has passed on to the southwark, and scatter
ing every day over the country; they furnish
winter record of interest. Robins and blus
birds and an occasional flicker are fo1ind loI
cally throughout the winter months and
these, with the several species of hawks whIcl|
scour the meadows for mice, few owls and i
varying number of wild ducks on the river
constitute the bulk of the regular winter all
FAUNA OF Philadelphia and vicinity In excep|
tional years or in the wake of great snow
storm come f1ooks of horned larks, the Syery|
rare snow buntings, or the crossbills pIuI
siskins and red-polls, but most of these an
decided rarities.
The Introduction of the English starlinrI
gives us another conspicuous winter Bird
though 1t is here also, If less in evidence, ID
summer as we'll It's black plumage recalls ths
blackbird, but the slighter spotting, the slsn-
der yellow bill. the short tail and necullal|
flight will identify it at once
The question uppermost in the minds u
the host of bird lovers, which the work o|
the Audubon Societies has developed, h|
How can we attract the birds and increase
their numbers about our homesP'
Keeping the Neighbors' Cats Away
The main points are to provide mora 81
less native thickets in your grounds whaa|
birds will find natural shelter and where aI|
the dead leaves and sticks will not be raked|
up leaving the ground bare and clean" Them
exclude the cats-the worst enemies Of Wild
bird life. The number of stray cats at larg'|
passes all belief, but when we find that in nna|
months in 1905 the Society for Prevention o|
Cruelty to Animals in New York City put cuI
of existence no less than 5393S cats, we sal
some idea of their abundance. Those yh'|
care moro for wild birds than birdeatns
cats, having no cats Of their own, may prc'|
tect their grounds from visits from nelgA|
boring cats by fastening chicken-wire 70 III
top of the fence so that It stands about tV'
feet above the fence, leaving it free OF an
rigid supports. When cat jumps up on III
and the cat drops on on the same side fron|
which 1t came. No cat likes to climb FL
anything that is not Stationary
Winter birds can be further attracted p'|
Fastening pieces OF suet TO the trunks or Inn
of trees, but the English sparrows often tah'
possession OF such food. They may be elm
mated by melting suet and pouring It in'|
a cocoanut shell which has large opening @
one side. then suspending the cocoanut py i
string or wire from a branch. The wild nl'1'
-downy woodpeckers. nu:hatches or enc.
adees-will come readily to feed, but the ~
rows like the cats, are suspicious OF a SWIM.
ing object and will not come near 1t. Feeai''
shelves or boxes, protected on top % A''.|
off the snow, may be placed on posts n y.
grounds and supplied with grain, seed
other food. or similar shelves may be arrans,-
Just outside window. by which means p...
may be brought close to an observer ia'''
the house III
There are innumerable ways OF atuap.'..
birds. and now that the public is aroaaso
take an interest in the matter there
reason why the decrease In various spe
due mainly to the spread OF town ana e''',
and the absolute neglect Of preserving so'-.
tions necessary to bird life. shall no'
checked. Let everybody lend hanai