The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-03-02
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0tlOWtHy Is TIE SecOnu or
series of articles By Prot. Fl. w.
Berky of the Button College
faculty and an authority on bird
lore. The articles are written
IN connection with the conserua-
tion program of the Community
Sportsmen's club. additional IN
stdllments wiH appear at inter
vdls.-EDIToR.
A few days ago this writer seated
at the breakfast table noticed a
familiar shadow fitting by the
window. Yes there it was-the first
robin of the year. 1t was an occasion
for an immediate family reunion.
Somehow the breakfast had a more
tangy flavor and the monotonous
grind of daily tasks assumed new
Importance.
A few minutes later he met a
neighbor with whom he had, but the
day before, swapped crouch for an
old fasninoed backache, and was
greeted by smiling "Did you see
the robins this morning." Since
then these cheering visitors have
been joined by the bluebirds and
Carolina wrens.
What is there about these quaint,
colorful little visitors that recalls us
from our sorrows, strifes, and even
the horrors of war? 1t must be
that they are prophetic minstrels
coming out of the cold drab of
winter to sing of better things to
come. They give us courage to
hope that out of this gloom soon
will come a white bird carrying !.
it's bill the message of peace to all
men.
Eat 1,50O Insects Daily
Let us not forget that their happy
songs are but cadenzas to a very
busy and useful life. The tiniest
one, the wren, feeds his family a
daily fare of fifteen hundred insects
right out of your back yard.
Of course we want them to live in
our yards. A few weeks ago we
briefly discussed methods of attract
ing them by providing feed boxes
and food. Today we wish to discuss
one of the more discouraging
features of this hobby. Most enjoy
ments have to be purchased by in
dustry and patience and birds are no
exception.
The fly in the ointment is the
common sparrow. The facts are
that he is omnivorous and voracious
and eats everything that any bird
eats. He is prolific, persistent, and
a sponge. He is noisy, nasty, and
messy.
Destroys Nests and Eggs
Among birds he is pugnacious, un-
sociable, and most unmannerly. He
destroys the nests and eggs of other
birds and persecutes them until all
but the most hardy seek other nest
ing places.
He also monopolizes the feeding
places and wastes a lot of feed by
scratching it over the edge of the
boxes. He has completely driven off
our premises the lovely bluebird, the
phoebe, the tree swallow, and the
various woodpeckers.
Two methods for combating this
pest have been used more or less
successfully. The first consists of
an especially constructed feed-box.
The box is so constructed that the
birds have to land on a platform
before entering the box. This plat
form is hinged to the floor of the
box by leather straps and the front
end is supported by two rubber
bands or two springs, so arranged
that the platform teeters eyerytime
bird lands on it.
Sparrow Doesn't Like 1t
Most birds seem to enjoy this
teetering, but the suspicious, sophis-
ticated sparrow is afraid. to enter
and may often be seen seated near
by and ruefully watching the other
birds enjoy their feast unmolested.
The second method consists of the
skillful use of sparrow traps. These
traps are constructed to large mesh
wire screen. The screen is fashioned
into a cage with wooden floor on
which feed is kept. The screen is