Evening star., 1936-11-12

Yet 1t Is so pleasant to the human
being involved to feel that the food is
protected in all weathers. that this con-
sideraticn becomes one of the foremost
in constructing a feeding device to at
tract the birds which Winter among us.
The simplest form of such feeder is a
small box or cone, filled from the top,
with a lid to go over 1t, the grain flowing
out on a small platform at the bottom.
1t is obvious that such an automatic
feeder may be made as complicated as
some Of the bird houses are and equally
futile, for the wild birds neither appre-
ciate man-made reflnements in nesting
places nor feeders.
Since birds will scatter a great deal Of
seed and grain, II the supply is steady,
this fact must be kept in mind in placing
the feeder. Perhaps the flower border is
best. Then. in the Spring. the mess OF
matted husks left by the little guests may
be cleaned up with minimum effort.
A common pine, by 4, perhaps feet
long, should be sunk in the border. pref
erably in front of a rose vine. Sink 1t
at least 2 feet. leaving 4 feet in the air.
Select an old soap box and turn 1t on
one of its long sides. which now becomes
the bottom. Place this on the post and
nail 1t down, with the back (the real bot
tom of the box) toward the northwest if
possible. II this position does not make
the open front of the box visible from
the windows, then the position must be
changed, of course. The idea Is to get
the seed protected from the prevailing
winds and storms, but If this cannot be
done, visibility is necessary at all hazards
and the box must be so placed.
A small rail, or ledge, should be nailed
across the bottom, about two inches high,
not only to give the birds a perching
place, but also to confine the seed placed
in the box daily.
The automatic" part consists, if one
chooses, of cutting the interior with
another board. which is left open slight
ly at the bottom. the board running from
near the top. front. to the back, rear.
In this case the top side must be opened
and put on hinges.
This soap box feeder is positively the
simplest that can be made. Even If
placed directly on the ground it still
gives food protection. If the outside is
painted window-blind green, and the in
side pure white the effect will be pleas
ing. The birds won't care.
The recommendation made above, that
such a feeder be placed in flower bor-
der, with climbing rose vine at its back,
perhaps needs further explanation.
The rose vine will discourage cats.
Even the cat admirer must admit that
these animals have no place at bird
feeder.
On the other hand. there is no need to
fly into a rage and wish to destroy the
cat which happens to see the birds.
1t is natural for the animal to try to
catch birds.
Try reasoning with him.
Cat reasoning is not human reason, it
is true, since it contains more persuasion,
but 1t may be worked along the same
lines, and will be, by the person fond Of
cats as well as birds.
Discourage cats, lure them with food
they like persist in these tactics and re-
tain the friendship of both cats and
birds.
liberation may be learned in the gar
Den as we'll as elsewhere. The smallest
garden has room enough in 1t for birds,
squirrels and cats If its owner has tolera-
ton in his heart.