Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-09
ABOUT BIRDS


come the victims of bullets, shrapnel
and deadly gases, or have they desert
ed the war-ridden continent entirely?
So engrossed have Americans been
in other phases of the terrific strug-
gle that few have thought OF the eff
feet of war on wild life.
During a severe artillery duel it is
reported that several British soldiers
were seen to be crying. When asked
why, they said that during the lulls of
the bombardment the birds could be
heard singing Over one trench hung
a tree, and on bough were two
birds preening their feathers and twit-
tering.
Between the opposing lines, birds
are said to be scarce, except swallows
and swifts, and stray linnets, wagtails
and starlings. A pair of tree spar
rows were actually found nesting in
a shell-torn tree between the lines;
while a kingisher settled by a John
son hole" within five yards of the
British trenches.
The war has helped instead of hurt
the birds of Europe, is the declaration
Of 7. Gilbert Pearson, secretary of the
National Association of Audubon So
cieties and American authority on
birds. Our correspondents have dis
L. 4 ~
are receiving an amity from the hands
of men in Europe to which they have
long been strangers.
For example, the French govern
ment has stopped all hunting, and the
minister of war has issued an order
that the sale of no native game will
be tolerated. Ordinarily, more than
1000 tons Of native killed game are
sold annually in the markets of
France-think of it-more than two
million pounds, and how many mil
lion birds?
Belgium, in time of peace, is one
of the greatest birdcatching countries
in Europe. More than $4,000 sky
larks, as we'll as hundreds of thou
sands of other birds are annually
trapped and exported from that coun-
try for food"
10 carry on its protective work
through education, the association.
from its national headquarters at
1874 Broadway, New York City, is
asking for the enlistment of 5000
friends of the birds, as members of
the association, at S. each, to serve
as recruits in the campaign the So
ciety is making to stop bird slaughter
in America.
When Johnnie builds a bird house
Tor a Wren, why does he find it occu-
pied by a chickadee? What bird de-
mands an apartment house and which
one will be content to live in an old
tin can? How do you build a bird
house, anyhow?
These and many other questions are
answered in pamphlet on the build
ing Of bird houses, just issued for the
boys and girls of America by the Ma
tional Association of Audubon So
cieties. The little book tells to the
fraction of an inch the size of en-
frances to houses required for differ
ent species Of birds, the proper floor
space, depth, the height of the en-
trance above the floor and the height
the bird houses should be placed
above the ground.
These dimensions, it is said, differ
in the case Of nearly every kind of
bird, thus making it possible to At
tract any desired species about the
home by building a house on proper
specifications.
"A few years ago." said Secretary
Pearson, of the association, "only four
species were commonly regarded as
house birds-the house wren, the
bluebird, the tree swallow and the
martin. Since the movement to pro-
tect birds and make neighbors of
them began, their natures and needs
have become better understood.
'Flickers readily accept houses
made according to their standards.
Red-headed and golden-f ronted wood
peckers are willing occupants of ar
tiicial houses, and even the downy
Woodpecker, a pretty good little car
penter himeslf, has deemed such a
home satisfactory. Shelters having
one or more sides open are used by
birds that would never venture into
dark houses suited to woodpeckers.
and have been occupied by robins,
brown thrashers, and song sparrows
and phoebes. The building of bird
houses brings opportunity for some
very interesting studies OF our feath-
cred friends"
The pamphlet issued by the associa-
ton gives simple and complete saw
, and-hammer directions for the build
ing Of bird houses. 1t also tells how
to attract birds about the home. It
can be secured at the headquarters of
the association, 1874 Broadway, New