Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1917-06-21
Bird Houses and
How to Build Them
By NED DEARBORN 5
Assistant biologist OF the United
States department OF agriculture.

Birds may be gathered about us In
all seasons of the year with ease and
certainty merely 10y Offering what they
!eSire. In winter they are often pushed
or food. aud II We supply this need
hey will report daily at the lunch
counter aud help 10 relieve the tcdium
of our indoor life IN summer they
care less for food provided 10y their
human friends. and other means must
be sought 10 attract them about the
home. They appreciate fresh water
for bathing and drinking, 4 shallow
pool OF varying depth, IL only foot
across, becomes on hot days II center
Of attraction for all the birds In the
vicinity. and II may be made with Ill.
tie effort and material Only a small
amount of cement is required. or, II
that be lacking. pan with stones In
II set in the ground will be equally
serviceable. Trees, shrubs. and vines
bearing fruit rclished 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
monte worth They are especially use.
frl as insect destroycrS during the
breeding period. when they have TO
work early aud late u obtain sufficient
food for their nc,tllugr, and their
movements at this time are more iu-
tcrcstmg than during any other season
| There IS. therefore q double purpose
IN offering them special nesting "a III.
ties. II mud is available. swallows.
robins and rhoclcS will found and
/ wall their nests with H. II we pat ont
feathers, hts Of wool or Irvine %
dozen different kinds Of birds viii
make use of them II We furnish safe
retreats in which they can rear their
young most Of them will be occupied
\ few years ago four species were
commonly regarded as house birds
the house wren, the b'ucbird the tree
swallow and the martin. Since the
movement to protect birds aud make
ncichbors II them began. however,
their natures and needs have become
better understood. and IL is now
known that many other spc les will
avail themselves Of houses constructed
for them by their human friends.
House Birds Increasing.
The habit OF nesting IN bird houses
has been ado.ol los individuals Of
many Spc.ic, wh'.h would not ord.
nar..y be expected TO make Use o.
such homes aud this may be taken
as Indicating that il viii become more
general from year to year as facilities
are afforded and rs the number Of birds
har.hod On houses Increases
That western wrouS and b'u,blrls
Should take as naturally 10 artificial
shelters rs aid their eastern relatives
was to be- expected On the other
hand, the use Of houses by birds which
until recently had rcrsistcutIy ignored
them Is surprising aud must be con.
sidercd n victory for those who have
studiuuSly attempted 10 enlarge their
circle Of feathcrcd nclghbors.
WUodpeckcrs. nuthatcscs aud titmIcc
excavate their own houses usually
new ones each year. leaving the Old
homes TO less capable architects
Builders Of artificial houses generally
80 to the woodpecker for designs. and
by varying styles to suit the tastes
OF different kinds " birds. have been
rewarded by such tenants as Chlcha.
dees. tufted titmice, white breasted
wrens. violet. green swallows. crested
uycatchers. scrccCh owls. sparrow
hawks and even some Of the wood.
peckers. the master builders them
selves. flickers readily accept houses
built according Ia their standards
Red headed aud golden frOutcd wood
peckers are willing occupants u nrti
hclal houses. and even the dowuy
woodpccker that sturdy little carrcn.
ter, has. In one Instance NJ least
deemed such home d satisfa tory
abode In which 10 raise family
Shelters having one or more sides opcn
are used by birds which would never
venture into dark houses suited to
woodpeckcrS. They have been occu.
pied by robins aud brown thrashcrs
Constructing Bird Houses.
House birds differ decidedly In their
requirements. For those which usually
excayatc homes Tor themselves. the
diameter of the entrance and he depth
and diameter Of the cavity must he IN
accord with their specific standards
Some birds are satisfied with almost
any sort OF lodging. Bluchirds aud
wrcns, for example are content 10
build In tomato cans. although chicka.
dccs and nuthntchcs disda.n them
Wood Is better building material
than metal or cartcnwure. Entrance
holes should he c0untcrSunk from the
outside TO exclude rain. Heads Of
! nails and screws should be set rather
deeply and covered with putty An
houses should be easy to open for
cleaning A perch ut the entrance "
unnecessary aud may even I've an OBJ.
lection, MS 1t is frequently used by
English spGrrows while they twitter
exaspcntingly TO more desirable &C.
cupants. To provide for proper vcnti.
lation row Of small holes il some.
| times hnrcl inst hcncnlh the nnXns. Lnt