The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-02
THE BIRDS NESTS:
 HOW TO STUDY THEM

Just now before the trees are in full leafage and the grass is high is the very
 best time to find and study birds nests.
 The baroness of the trees reveal the nests.
 Never disturb the nests while the birds
 are building or the nest holds the eggs or
 baby birds, but in the winter or the early spring you can take the nest to pieces
 and find out how they are put together,
 and then in the summer you can tell how
 the birds build the nest from the exami-
 nation and what birds frequent them |t The Youths Companion asks the follow
 ing questions and then tells you how to
 arrange the nests for study and exami- nation:
 How many students of birds can tell the
 difference between the nests of the sum-
 mer warbler and the American goldfnch.
 The bluebird found in the Alabama woods
 and the Wren? The red winged and the
 dare say, for to distinguish between these
 birds requires the keenest observation. Secure the nests and arrange them in groups according to types, study the difference between them, note their posi- ton in the tree or bush and see how they are fastened.
 Then in summer compare them with the nests that the birds are using and that you can identify with any degree of cer- tainty. Be sure to note what it is that holds the nest in it's circular form The l robin builds the walls of it's nests with
 mud, and may therefore line it with grass since the dried mud holds it in shape
 But brown thrashers, tanagers and cat birds, which make the walls of their nests of various loose material that can be blown or crushed out of shape are wise enough to line their nests with wide-lilxe roots that keep them in form. These are 1 however, but illustrations of genera | facts. Study the nests of every bird you can find. It is one of the most interest
 ing ways of finding out the habits of the l little feathered friends, and always ask yourself: What keeps this nest in its circular form?' You will then make | many interesting studies.
 We should encourage birds to bulk ! their nests and rear their young not only l because of their beauty and song. but be cause of their value to man as insect de stroyerS.
 The movement of birds is especially in- teresting during their breeding period for food is scarce and they have to work early and late to obtain sufficient food l for their nestlings. It is during this sea l son that they are the most valuable ir destroying insects.
 There is then ample reason for offering 1 them special nesting facilities in the way of house and material for building nests It has not been long since we thought there were but four species thai could be regarded as house birds, but now we know that there are many others that
 will avail themselves of houses con structed for them by their human friends. In many parts of the country the practice of building bird houses has become quite common. and 1t is quite 1 time that we in Birmingham should dt
 something along this line on large
 scale.
 Naturalists who have studied the habits and characteristics of birds have done much to aid us in building proper houses for them. Such specifications as the size and depth of the house and the size of the entrance are very important features il attracting the desired birds.
 | Bluebirds and wrens will often build ir l a tomato can with an entrance cut in ont l side and placed in tree or on a post Martins will build in gourd with { | proper hole cut for an entrance. Severa
 gourds arranged together on pole vii accommodate a colony and will be found | very enticing to them. A hollow log ol a box of proper size may be used. but 1T all cases they should be made weather
 proof