Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-12-07
FOR BIRD LOVERS.
Farmers Bulletin 760 Tells How to At
tract the Birds of the Northwest

the feathered wild creatures to live and
nest about their homes may receive
valuable suggestions as to methods OF
protecting, feeding, and the provision
of nesting places from Farmers Bulle-
tin 76O, recently published by the U. s.
Department of Agriculture. The pub
LEGATION relates to Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, northern California, and the
western half of Montana, and is the
second of series of bulletins suggesting
methods of attracting birds in various
sections of the country.
Protection.
One of the first steps a householder
must take if he wishes to attract
feathered wild life about his place is to
provide protection from natural foes,
especially cats. If a complete bird
sanctuary is to be created, the area set
apart for this purpose should be inclosed
by vermin-proof fence which can
neither be dug under nor climbed. The
principal feature of such barrier is
top curved outward or bent outward at
right angles. If the construction of
such a fence is impracticable, more
limited protection may be supplied by
placing guards on trees to prevent cats
and other animals from climbing them.
the tree, or cones of like material, fit
ting tightly at the upper edge and FLAIR
ing downward, will serve the purpose.
Another essential is to furnish breed
ing places. Close growing shrubs make
excellent sites for nests. They should
be trimmed back severely when young
to produce numerous crotches. Bird
houses also should be placed about the
home for the species which will use
such nesting places, but care should be
taken that too many such houses are
not furnished. AS a rule, birds do not
like being crowded. If breeding places
are to be provided for ground-nesting
birds, such as bobolinks, meadow larks,
and bobwhite, grass should be allowed
to grow thickly and long in appropriate
locations.
Water Supply
| For all birds some sort of bathing and
drinking pools should be furnished.
These may be either on the ground or
raised and may be of pottery, stone,
metal or cement. Both the edges and
bottom should be somewhat rough. The
water receptacle should be shallow and
should slope up gradually toward the
edge.
| Food.
The vital factor in attracting birds
is the food supply. This may be fur
nished either by providing artificial
food such as crumbs, suet, chopped nuts,
and the like, or by planting trees,
shrubs, and herbs which will produce
fruits or seeds that the birds themselves
may gather. Winter feeding is the most
familiar phase of bird feeding, but
there is no reason why birds should not
be attracted throughout the year by a
supply of food.
For artificial feeding the biologists
of the U. S. Department of Agriculture
suggests the use OF several devices. A
food shell may be placed against the
side of the house near a window, or a
food tray may be fixed to the top of a
post. An excellent food receptacle may
be made by cutting hole in coconut
and stuffiag the shell full of chopped
suet and nuts or some other food mix
ture. The shell can be hung from a
limb. Holes bored in pieces of thick
lumber may be used instead of cavity
in coconut. Feeding hopper like those
used for poultry may be employed for
birds on food shelves or on the ground.
A wooden house open on one side,
mounted on pivot, and provided with
vanes to keep the open side away from
the wind also may be used as a feeding
place.
Natural Feeding.
If it is desired to feed the birds
naturally, there are number of plants
that may be grown which will be
ornamental and, at the same time, will
furnish good provender for the feather
ed guests. For seed eating birds in the
Northwest the list suggested by the
Department of Agriculture includes
princes feather, love-lies- bleeding,
asters, Calandrinias, blessed thistle,
Centaureas, California poppies, sun
flowers, tarweed, forget me nots,
Polpgonum orientale, P. sachalinese,
portulaca, Silene, and sugar cane Other
seed-bearing small plants that may be
grown are the various millets, Canary
grass, and the various species of PENN
setum. Among the trees bearing seeds
relished by birds are the alders and
birches. The red-polls, siskins, and
goldfinches are particularly fond of
these tree seeds during the winter.
Ashes and box elders furnish seed
relishes by evening grosbeaks, while
larches and pines and other conifers are
attractive to cross bills as well as to
some of the species just mentioned.
The fruit-eating birds may be attract.
ed in great numbers by planting of
fruitrbearing shrubs and trees. The
best of the long persisting fruits in the
Northwest are juniper, bayberry, thorn
apples and related fruits, holly, and
snow-berry. A large number of other
fruit-bearing plants are listed in the
bulletin already mentioned, and the
period of fruiting of each is shown on a
chart. One of the advantages of plant
ing wild fruit-bearing trees and shrubs,
1T is pointed out, is that the birds are
fonder of these than of the cultivated
fruits, and the latter, therefore, will be
protected.
Copies of the bulletin may be had
free on application to the u s. Depart