Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-18

3SlilNt loN, -. u, June II
Among American songbirds, the house
wren has always been 1t popular fav-
oritc Every year boxes ha"e been
erected for his coming. and food pro-
v!ded him during the occasional late
sleet storms. And always we have
marrelcd greatly at the pluck with
which so small a bird protected its
nest and scoldcd and fought It's enc
mics. Now he stands convicted OF high
treason. and bird lovers all over the
country are trying their best 10 get
rid OF him For II has been discovered
recently by the Biological Survey that
our beloved wren delights in poking
holes in the newly-laid eggs OF the
other sonRbirds, decreasing the annua!
bird population by many broods. Thus
according 10 the survey. the bird which
we have always regarded as a pucky
little angel has turned out TO be
regular little devil
In view OF the fact that We have
always had birds with US. surprisingly
little is known concerning their habits
and requirements. Here, after man,
years, We are just fndinS out the du-
pNcity OF the wren. In talking 10 an
ornitholoGist some time ago a young
woman confessed that she could ,cn
flicker from n thrush and a robin
from blackbird, hut aside from that
knew nothing about birds. The orn,.
biologist smiled and told her that COM
pared to the knowledge OF the masses
hers was very monument OF learning
However ignorant tho iayman may Re
concerning birds. he Is usually very
fond OF them. and viii go TO any
amount OF trouble 10 have them about
his place, nesting under his roof and in
his trees and rose bushes
The principal inducemcnt 20 be Of
fered in attracting birds about the
home Is protection from natural enc
mics such as cats. snakes and squirrels
This may be done by SirClins the
trunks of trees with bands Of tin or
metal as obstacles 10 climbing: and hy
getting rid Of many cats as possible
Next TO isportsnen and storms, cats
XIII more birds annually than all othrr
enemies put together. ana a community
possessing numerous cats IS carefully
avoided by the birds.
Helping In Their Homes.
Besides protection. birds appreciate
any assistance in the way of nesting
facilities. drinking and bathing places
and food A shallow pool. or merely A
meta! pan embedded in a secluded place
In the ground. Will attract hundreds OF
birds. who take several baths dav
during the summer weather. In erect
ing bird houses the boxes should he
covered with branches and foliage II
possible, and certainly not llaccd in
a conspicuous location exposed 10 the
"a ''''tS VI ilHiildHS ana the HDpetlte
OF cats. Neither should the boxes he
placed too close together, for while
birds are sociablc creatures thev re-
sent being crowded. During the mi.
sratory season only do they lead a
community life, flying and roosting in
great iocks.
During the summer birds are usually
Indifferent to extra supplies of food.
since the earth and trees are filled with
Iil SORTS Of enticing things to eat but
ii has been noted by ornitholocists
that an extra food supply during tho
nesting season is conducive TO a greater
.numher OF eggs laid and also the num-
her of broods in season
In winter the birds that remain are
practically dependent on human assist
ance in securing food. and II is TO he
said against us that great numbers
or birds die of starvation every year.
While in the summer birds live most
~ on insects, seeds and fruit berries
according TO their habits. in the win.
ter they VIII eat anything from bones
to peanuts. Many bird-lovers throurb.
out the country have built feeding
shelves and trays for the purpose of
feeding BIRDS and have made up reru
lar menus. for them. including raw or
boiled rice, suet. bones with shreds OF
meat cracked corn, nut meats pen
pers, sliced apples. meal worms non
corn, cocoanut meat. seeds OF all kinds.
Sucn as Dird seed, hemp seed, pump
kin, squash and sunflower seeds, rolled
oats and wheat. In building n food
tray or shelf ii should be placed in
the shelter Of roof or wall, or covered
with evergreen branches, so that the
first wind or snow that comes along
will not sweep away the food
Valuable Insect Dcstroycrs
The complaints of various persons
that birds eat valuable berries and
crops would probably never be made
if their natural food supply were Gull
tivated or even let alone. Many values
have been placed. upon the crop pro
ducts destroyed by birds every wear.
but no accurate estimate has been
placed upon their services in eating
up the many insects that would own
the whole earth If not suppressed nv
some method. Unfortunately. weeds
are not considered either necessary or
Ornamental so that they are cut down
and eXterminated ut every opportunity.
thus cutting off for the bird very
precious food supply. Deprived of
their natural food, 1t is not strange
of course. that they should turn to
cultivated plants as n means of living.
Under these circumstances, IL is nat
ural that the farmer regards many
birds as common thieves. a number
OF plants and shrubs have now been
listed by the biological survey, which
it believes will attract birds to the