The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-30
PROTECT BIRDS TO KILL BUGS
Abate Both Cats and Sparrows and
Keep the Useful, Says State
zoologist Surface

This is the time of year to get
ready for the birds to nest around your
premises, said State Zoologist IL. A.
surface. Preparations for attracting
and Keeping the birds in the vicinity of
the home should not longer be DELAYED.
There are several things that can
De done, and when combined will prac-
lcally insure birds for your vicinity.
Let 1t be remembered that birds are
Wortny OF our every effort for their pro
tectlon, because of heir great economic
value IN deSti Dying injurious insects
and certain weed seeds. and because of
their attractive song, beautiful plumaee.
interesting habits and ethical value.
There are no native birds but what are
worthy of our efforts at their encour.
agement and preservation. Two intro.
uuced vagabOnls, the English sparrow
and the English starting, will prove
more destructive as the years 90 by,
and should be supported at every oppor-
! tunity.
Zone of the first steps toward at.
tracing the birds is to suppress their
enemies. Reduce all unnecessary noise
and eommotion, avoid frightening them
when they come around the premises on
their return i'll the spring and com.
mence to seek nesting sites. Super
nuous cats are among the CHIEF agents
! in driving away birds. No native bird
| is willing to nest where there is n
Screeching horde of English sparrows.
The next step, which can not long
er be postponed, is to prepare boxes for
| those species like he Iennv wren. the
bluebird, tiycatchers. chickadee. mar.
TIN and others that nest in boxes, and
put up boxes or logs of dead wood or
with holes in them for birds like the
nuthatches, the tliekers and woodpeck-
ers of various species that nest in holes
IN wood. Any person should be able
to make suitable bird boxes. For the
common and sociable little wren any
kind of a bCX that is as large as six
inches in each of its three dimensions
will be sufficient. Make hole bv
marking around quarter of dollar
near the top of the box, and the wrens
can pass through while the sparrows
can not
Clean out the old bird boxes. 1t
is possible to be too kind to the birds
and leave lot of trash in the boxes,
which they would rather not find there
Make an opening two inches for the
bluebirds, and make a small opening
about one-half inch in diameter above
it. Do not make more than one door
for a nest. The martins are colonial,
or live in colonies, and several prefer
to nest in one large box, but with dis
tinctly separate compartments. Other
birds prefer single boxes. Make them
and put them up at once, covering
them with bark from trees to give an
attractive rustic appearance and re-
lieve the appearance Of newness. There
is no such thing as a special process of
treating the boxes to induce the birds
to remain in them. For the wrens al.
most any kind of receptacle will
serve tine purpose. We have seen them
nest in a cigar box, an old coffee mill,
a derby hat with a hole cut in it.
gourds. tin cans, and even old shoes,
as well as hollow posts.'
In addition to boxes, prepare to feed
the birds by planting those plants,
vines and shrubs that will furnish nat
ural fruits or seeds for them. Direc-
tions for this important feature of bird
attraction can be obtained by writing
to- II. A. Surface, Economic Zoologist,
Harrisburg, Pa.