Connecticut western news., 1917-05-31
Bird Houses and
 How to Build Them
s By NED DEARBORN
Assistant biologist of the United States department of agriculture.

certainty merely by offering what they desire. In winter they are often pushed for food, and if we supply this need they will report daily at the lunch counter and help to relieve the tedium of our indoor life. in summer they care less for food provided by their human friends, and other means must be sought to attract them about the home. They appreciate fresh water for bathing and drinking. A shallow pool of varying depth, if only foot across, becomes on hot days a center of attraction for all the birds in the vicinity, and it may be made with lit- tie effort and material. Only a small amount of cement is required, or, if that be lacking, a pan with stones in it set in the ground will be equally serviceable. Trees, shrubs, and vines bearing fruit relished by birds are great attractions in their season.
 Useful and Interesting.
 Birds are desirable about premises not only on account of their beauty and song, but because of their eco- homie worth. They are especially use ful as insect destroyers during the breeding period, when they have to work early and late to obtain sufficient food for their nestlings, and their movements at this time are more in- teresting than during any other season. There is, therefore, double purpose in offering them special nesting facili- ties. If mud is available, swallows, robins and phoebes will found and wall their nests with it. If we put out feathers, bits of wool or twine dozen different kinds of birds will make use of them. If we furnish safe retreats in which they can rear their young most of them will be occupied.
 A few years ago four species were commonly regarded as house birds the house wren, the bluebird, the tree swallow and the martin. Since the movement to protect birds and make neighbors of them began. however, their natures and needs have become better understood and it is now known that many other species will avail themselves of houses constructed for them by their human friends.
 House Birds increasing. The habit of nesting in bird houses has been adopted by individuals of many species which would not ordi- narily be expected to make use of such homes, and this may be taken as indicating that it will become more general from year to year as facilities are afforded and as the number of birds matched in houses increases. t.+ hn4 should take as naturally to artificial shelters as did their eastern relatives was to be expected. On the other hand the use of houses by birds which until recently had consistently ignored them is surprising and must be con- sidered victory for those who have studiously attempted to enlarge their circle of feathered neighbors. ]. .Woodpeckers, nuthatchcs and titnice excavate their own houses, usually new ones each year, leaving the old homes to less capable architects. Builders of artificial houses generally go to the woodpecker for designs, and by varying styles to suit the tastes Of different kinds of birds, have been rewarded by such tenants as chicka- dees, tufted titmice, white breasted nuthatches, Bewick and Carolina wrens, violet-green swallows, crested hycatchers, screech owls, sparrow hawks and even some of the wood- peckers, the master builders them selves. Flickers readily accept houses built according to their standards Red headed and golden fronted wood. of fcial houses, and even the downy woodpecker, that sturdy little carpen- ter, has, in one instance at least, deemed such a home satisfactory abode in which to raise a family. Shelters having one or more sides open are used by birds which would never venture into dark houses suited to woodpeckers. They have been occu- pied by robins and brown thrashers.
 Constructing Bird Houses.
 House birds differ decidedly in their requirements. For those which usually excavate homes for themselves, the diameter of the entrance and the depth and diameter of the cavity must be i'll accord with their specific standards. Some birds are satisfied with almost any sort of lodging. Bluebirds and wrens, for example, are content to 7 build in tomato cans, although chicka- dees and nuthatches disdain them Wood is better building material than metal or eartenware. Entrance holes should be .countersunk from the outside to exclude rain. Heads of nails and screws should be set rather deeply and covered with putty. All houses should be easy to open for cleaning. A perch at the entrance is unnecessary and may even be an ob- jection, as it is frequently used by English sparrows while they twitter exasneratinglY to more desirable oc,