Evening star., 1936-04-10

This feeder, If worked out properly,
would insure dry feed well above q DOS.
sible snow line, keep the seeds and grains
dry In the Severest rain. prevent squir-
rels from climbing up and in, and also
prevent birds themselves from scattering
too much food on the ground.
II n -
The long line, SO inches, would permit
q dozen birds or more to perch them.
selves along. truly beautiful sight to all
friends of birds. Such q feeder might
easily be made 48 or more inches long, or
two smaller ones placed side by side.
The great advantage of this feeder, in
addition to those named, would be that
it would not have to be filled 50 often.
A box IL inches by "a inches would hold
IS gallons of grain, for instance, II the
entire interior were filled.
II board cut the interior in the CEN
ter, in order to insure the f1ow Of food to
the front, not so much food could be put
in, Of course, but still the amount would
be large, in comparison to the capacity Of
most automatic feeders.
The roof should be constructed 50 that
1t either would lift of entirely or be on
hinges 50 that 1t could be raised for
filling.
Such feeder would meet most Of the
objections to average feeding devices. 1t
could be placed almost any place, with
out danger Of injury to grass, especially.
A close position in perennial border
would be best.
We still doubt the wisdom Of window
feeder, feeling at the best it would draw
only very small percentage OF the
birds attracted to one even 10 feet from
the house Ten feet does not seem much,
but it makes a great deal Of difference to
the birds.
An uncovered stone terrace at the
rear would make an ideal situation for
any sort of feeder.
1t is an unfortunate fact that some
feeders are made by persons who evil
IDENTIFY never fed the birds themselves
and therefore do not understand the
many small problems which come up.
One had large holes bored in the plat.
form, ostensibly to let rain flow through.
The holes, however, were so large that
most Of the seed would go through. too
Many feeders are intended to hold only
minute portion Of seed. II the human
agent has any fortune at all this will
SIMPLY mean Jl1dL nc HluSL Tc1l1 LIlc dc-
vice many times day. This not only
disturbs the birds but Is a nuisance,
especially in raw, inclement weather. or
when Ice and snow make such trips into
the garden forbidding.
One enthusiastic bird feeder Of our
acquaintance has even thought of utiliz.
ing his garage as huge feeding station.
He contemplates building bin, or hop
per. inside, and cutting out long slit
at the bottom in the side of the build
ing. This would permit the birds to feed
on the ground. where so many Of them
like to eat, and the feeder would have to
be filled but once a season! His hopper
would hold about half ton Of seed, and
that ought to do, he says, for many birds
many months.
Such a set-up. however. Is scarcely
feasible for most, and quite unnecessary.
The birds love the small feeders land so
do the squirrels). Several small feeders,
located at different points in the yard.
tend to give all the creatures chance to
get something to eat. They also mean
more birds, and the more birds, the mer-
rier. especially when the snow is on the
ground.