The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-09-25

FEEDING THE BIRDS IN WINTER
Mrs Sam ii. Butler

EEDiNu IHE Birds IN WlNIEh
Mrs. Sam ii. Butler
The Fly Honeysukle" across the
way, which had been in full bloom
during the month Of January, sharing
its heavy sweet odor with an army of
bees. made one feel that Spring was
in the air Maybe the reddening maple
buds and frilling elm boughs helped
also, any way. the early part of Feb
rary was so permeated with warm
sunshine, merry Robin calls and the
Cedar wax-wngs whispered greet
ings. that even men with graying tenn
pie and unsprightiy steps were turn
ing their fancy TO thoughts of Palm
Beach suits, when 10, the heaviest
snow storm of many years was upon
| us.
! The pewter.gray clouds began pelt.
ing us with giant flakes of swans
down in the early morning, and by
noon streets and lawns were heaped
high with a horde Of whte.grained
silence. Trees wore their royal cloak
of ermine and strung their twigs
with pearls as gracefully as tho their
southern highnesses had known such
royalty all the winters Of their sun
kissed lives. Little boys and girls
aged and youthful-pressed eager
faces against frost-painted windows
panes hearthappy in the hush Of the
newly fallen snow.
But what of the transient and res
ident bird life in our midst? How did
the Robins get their breakfast under
five and one-half inches of snow?
What did the cedar bird feast upon
since the hackberries were incased in
ice? And our dear wood-brds and
meadow larks, how did they find sus-
tenance? Little boys and girls Of
our Audubon Clubs, did you give fooo
TO your feathered friends during this
severe storm? If not you cheated your.
of kindnesses. II is so little trouble
and brings such happy rewards.
May l tell you of my Emergency
Spread" and the guests partaking
therefrom? Possibly it will inspire
some of you to go and do likewise
another time and from my experience
you may gather a few what to do"
and what not to do" ideas. The first
step in preparing to feed the birds
during a storm must be taken several
weeks before the storm arrives, that
is, one must put up what we will
call a family table-on which is kept
everything relished by English spar
and Rln. fnr
get the fact that rain or shine, the
sparrows and Blue Jays-like poverty
We have with us always. But let
me whisper secret to you: They
aren't so quick NTitted as il is noised
abroad and it's fun, It's pioneering in
way, TO get ahead of them. There
fore we keep their table well supplied
with grain and crumbs and peanuts,
until they feel perfectly at home, and
wouldn't under any circumstances,
allow a stranger or transient bird a
seat at their board.
Now this is where we outwit such
greedy feeders. After the storm ar
rives prepare company table-and
oh! make it large. Mine was an old
goods-box about sc by 81 inches II
the ground is covered with snow
rake the snow away for the ground.
feeders will not get up on the table.
Put corn bread crumbs-all birds
like them-scratch feed or any seed
you may have specially saved and
meat scraps, such as small pieces OF
beef and sausage. Scatter this geners |
ously upon the ground. also. for the |
snow birds and meadow larks You will |
find that by the time the English |
sparrows and Blue Jays are through |
chattering TO each other. and to all |
new contraption and long before they |
can make up their minds that IL is.
mt trap. and can safely be visited |
why the storm is over and gone and
our visitors shall not have been dis |
turbed during their meals.
Let me warn you, however. not 10
put peanuts, or nuts OF any kind on |
the company table, for the Blue Jays
will bravely come for nuts and steal |
them all. You must melt suet and add |
nuts and seed TO il. and when har.
dened nail the cake TO the tree trunks |
and the wrens. chickadees and wood.
sparrows and Jays cannot hang com
peckers will find 1t. Then. too. the
fortably TO the tree 10 get 1t all as |
they would surely do If left on a |
table.
| put two or three dozen peanuts |
on my box-just to see the fun--the |
second day OF the storm. MIR. Jay |
would take six or seven in his bill /
and throat fly across the street TO |
fenc post. spit them all out and then |
carefully wedge them in. one by one.
somewhere in the post. Well. he soon
got them all and picked up the ones
he had dropped and left the guests
In peace.
Such guests as they were! At one
time five robins were on the table
at once their red breasts all fluffed |
out 10 keep themselves warm. for
eight or ten hours my table was
not bare " robin dinners save for q !
few minutes when something fright.
ened them away Another time a
a