Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-12
Editors Letter Box
Protect the Birds

on awakening in the morning and
while we have been taking that last
semi conscious nap that is a mixture
of comfort and plans for the day,
heard that sweet note-we listen to
make sure-surely it is the robin,
Robin Redbreast So glad are we to
see her, though we all know exactly
how she looks, we arise hastily, par
TALLY dress, throw me curtain and
scan the landscape to see our old
friend, beautiful and trustful robin,
taking a survey of the territory, en-
tertaining us with those sweet notes.
The blue bird. song sparrow, mead
ow lark, pewee and many others have
already arrived, and will be busily
looking for a place in which to To-
cate a home. Can we do anything to
a ssist them? Do we need to do any
thing to help them? Well. let's see. I
know where there is an apple tree. 1t
stands so that its branches almost
touch n dwelling. In that tree two
pairs of robins built their homes last
year. The eggs were laid and care
fully watched over and brooded by
Mr.. and Mrs. Robin. The young
lodgings in due time were born. and
so busy and happy were husband
and wife caring for that hungry fam
lily of four. The gardener was fol-
lowed by them gathering Crubs and
angle worms. The lawn in the damp
Of the morning and in wet weather
was constantly watched for worms to
feed those fast growing birds. But
one morning | heard piteous, entrcat.
ing and saGdening cries. / arose rs
quickly as | could to learn the cause,
to find a cat had assembled the tree
and was attacking one of the nests
and had already killed two of the
young f1edslings. II is needless to
say that that cat killed no more, and
it was not my cat. Surely here was
a tragedy. What is more distressing
to hear than the pitifrl cries Of birds
whose nests have been robbed? Their
mourning is almost human. Well.
what are we going to do about It?
Keep cats and let them run loose in
4 city like this?
I love cats as we'll as any one but
( if I am to keep a cat the least that T
/ can DO IS to protect the tree in whose
branches birds have homes
1 It is said, destroy the birds and We
have no vegetation. Probably that's
nverdra wn, but more than we know,
/ BIRDS are a great economic asset 10
us by reducing the insect enemies in
our orchards. shade trees and forests
/ In city where so much is done to
keep our trees healthy and fine look
, ing by tree surgery in the removal of
dead limbs filed with holes many
nesting places are DESTROYED and such
birds as the bird wren, downy
woodpccker and -fhicXaGee find if
sometimes difficult to locate a home
! But nesting boxes can be placed on
trees or poles to help them. These
boxes may be built Of weather beaten
NUMBER such AS old shingles. The
mole must he placed near the ton,
near the ovcrhang Of the roof. and
should he between seven -cichths inch
and ono and one half inch in diane
ter for the birds that will choose
them. One side of the box should he
! removable in order that j. may be in
spected whom the birds have gone.
Inspected for egg clusters Of the
fgypsy moth-a bad pest
A good way to group the birds IS
according to the way they obtain
their food. There arc some birds. az
the robin and blue bird, that get their
food mostly off the ground. Some
like the swallows. martins and swifts
that take their food from the air on
VI nd
hatch, downy woodrcckcr. that find
theirs on the trunks and limbs of
trees.
In closing. lot me say that II is said
that man is the birds worst enemy
He not only kills wantonly, but care
lessly. Think of the many fires that
are built in "cut downs" and runs
during the nesting Scason-whcn
thousands of nests are DESTROYED.
That next in order birds themselves
are their own worst enemy. And third
comes the cat. So it seems that by
'he exercise of care, man can add
much to the comfort and welfare of
birds. In our cities VIC can feed Thorn
when they are in need; we can pro-
tect thcm by banding tree and pole
supporting, nesting box, with tin or
zinc to. keep the cat away: we can
furnish them water placed in a shall
low plate placed on suitable stand.
We can sec that when we move from
one rent to another that the cats are
killed or cared for, and when we have
done these few. simple things we
have accomplished much to assist the
birds in building their hcmos and car
ing for their young.
Cultivate the acquaintance Of the
hlrds They will readily respond
And you will have an ally that will
assist in the protection of garden.
shade tree and orchard, to say moth
ing of the enjoyment YOU will receive
from their confidence, their sociabil
ity and song.
GEORGE II. BABB.
Are YOU friend OF the birds?