Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-04-07
Joe Lucky, Bird Lover, Tells
How To House Songsters

i am a great lover of BIRDS" said
Joe Lucky, "and I do what l can to
encourage the INTO make homes near
me. have a wren box, robin box and
W bluebird houses. The birds all
come back. We have had them come
back as many as four years in success
sion. / have had bird houses for ten
years.
IF two of your bird houses are
alike, the birds will study them and
pick and choose. One year some blue
birds wanted an unoccupied wren box.
enlarged the hole so they could get
in. They tried again, but the hole
was still too small. / enlarged it
again, and Soon / found them at home
in the box.
Birds should be treated kindly es-
pecially in severe weather. / keep
bird baths otu and this warm winter
they We're much used. Birds may be
induced to nest in holes in trees if
the holes are made to look like the
ones they make.
"The titmouse likes snag-like
houses. The redbird likes rose bushes
and foliage. Wherever there is plenty
of shrubbery, one has no difficulty in
inducing the birds to come. The
oriole must have an elm tree for his
nest ,as they like to swing from very
Timber branches. The oriole is one
Of the most beautiful singers and also
has the very prettiest of bird homes"
Mr.. Lucky Of South Clark can tell
many things Of interest that he has
observed among trees and plants and
bird life. Another beautiful lot where
there are four lovely bird homes is
that of G. w. Robetson on Love street.
1t has been positively proved that
birds will return annually to localities
where assistance in the form of nest
ing boxes has been rendered by those
interested in bird life, says Leon H.
Baxter in al article on bird boxes
which he prepared for the Popular
Educator" a magazine devoted
largely to the interests of the rural
school.
The boy or girl who puts up boxes
for the birds to nest in, supplies them
with drinking and bathing places, and
provides food for those species which
remain in winter, is certain of an un-
failing source of PLEASURE, which can
never be known to anyone who pursues
them with airgun and stones, or simp-
ly ignores their presence
Bluebirds and house wrens are the
easiest to entice to the nesting box.
Plain, weather stained boxes or those
covered with bark have proved the
best type. A brightly painted box
win not attract birds. Chicadees and
fiickers take to the homemade boxes,
and sometimes the little screech own
will accept the ~proffered home. He
makes a worthy tenant too, because
as a mouser he is superior to the
housecat.
Robin red-brease is another easily
attracted native bird. Do not get dis
couraged if the birds do not respond
Immediately. Don't forget the handy
drinking and pathing pool which is
cutie an inducement for the fluffy
feathered friends.
It is best to put up the bird-house
several months in advance Of the time
for occupancy. Thus they become
weather stained and take on the frag-
rance Of nature anil lose their man
made scent. Place the boxes in quiet
places away from the direct rays of
the sun. high enough to be out of the
reach of prowling cats.
The roof or the bottom of the bird
house shauld be hinged so that the
house may be cleaned out at the end
of each season. There should be a
few small holes bored in the bottom
so that the moisture which might
otherwise accumulate, may drain.
Holes for ventilation should be placed
just under the caves so that drafts
will not affect the young. It is best
to have the house stationery to pre-
vent undue swinging in high winds,
perhaps causing the breaking of eggs
and causing discomfort to the mother
bird.
Dried gourds followed out, and with
an opening made for an entrance
often attract wrens and bluebirds.
Tin cans are not desirable as they be-
come very hot in the SUM-.
An added attraction for the birds
is the placing of bits Of strings and
horsehair and other nesting material
conveniently for them.