Evening star., 1935-11-29
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

"Why hadn't thought of a bird
feeding station before?"
Every one who constructs or purchases
one of these devices will make this re-
mark to himself after he sees how well
1t works.
1t works, of course, on the divine prin-
ciple of hunger.
1t is perfectly possible to place food on
the ground for the birds, but the small
feeder attached to tree or placed in
some other position has its advantages.
There are many types of feeders, the
individual selection being left to the per-
son interested. There are very elaborate
ones, built to swing with the wind and
keep the birds dry while feeding.
There are feeders TO be placed on trees,
others in windows, so that the SongSters
which Winter with us will fly right up
where we can watch them easily and
with no more trouble than taking seat
in an easy chair.
If we believe our own eyes, however,
very few persons seem to know much
about the use Of feeders.
Since putting one up and seeing it
patronized Immediately by large variety
Va NhdO3 CfCh OAAOh6AA NOAO nCdO1AC4 40
scarcely with us, we have kept q weather
eye open for devices of this type.
We have scanned trees, garages, fences
and other places where such feeders
might be placed, to the benefit of birds
and humans alike, without seeing one of
them anywhere.
No doubt we have not looked in the
right yards, but still the informal survey
shows one thing plainly:
There are not enough of these feeders
in operation for the pleasure of birds or
garden lovers.
If the average home owner who has not
placed one out could see one in operation
for little while there can be little ques-
tion that he would sense the immediate
advantage Of it for all concerned.
A handy man could construct one Of
these feeders very easily, and with little
brown stain or dark green paint could
make it neat article to adorn a tree
or post.
Whether white is a good color for one
we do not know from personal experience.
Probably the birds would not take to it
quite so readily at first, but would in the
end find it no different from any other.
Certainly there would be certain situa-
tions, such as a white-painted garage,
where the white feeder would be the
most appropriate.
The most simple type undoubtedly is
a combination of feeder and robin shelf.
The robin prefers for nesting fiat, pro-
tected shelf, with at least two possible
exits. Such a shelf makes an excellent
feeder in Winter and a good robin home
in Spring and Summer. At the same time
1t is very easy to make, consisting simply
Of a bottom shelf, back and a roof,
really constituting an elemental sort of
"lean-to." If the sides are blocked in
hole should be cut in at least one side,
since the robin likes his two exits, in
case of need.
This feeder, as most of them attached
to tree ca very good place., is best
faced South, to guard it from prevailing
north winds. If it can be placed slightly
to the southeast, in order to give some
protection from western winds, so much
the better. If faced south the second
exit, If hole cut in side, should be
toward the east
1t IS possible to combine both suet
feeder and seed feeder in one, but since
suet is somewhat messy, it is perhaps best