Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-12
This and That
By Charles. Z. Trace,DeH.
'BERWYN, Md.

"BERWYN, Md
Dear Sir:
Recently put pan Of water in the
bird feeding station I have put up, but
have found that the water is splashed
out and makes the seed messy. Can
you suggest any way Of handling this
situation?
watching and feeding the birds have
become very interesting since we moved
out here. We have so many more species
than in town.
I'm the city simply threw food on
the ground, but since coming out here
I have put up this rather elaborate
feeding station. I must say that it does
not seem worth the trouble and time I
put on it.
do you think would do just as well
to go back to putting the food directly
on the ground?
Cordially, E. L. g."
- X
Water in a bird station is not so
good. 1t results in the trouble instanced
by our correspondent.
The best way is to place a bowl or
pan at some distance from the feeding
station.
No matter where located in the yard,
the birds will find it.
BY putting it at some little distance
they are enabled to use their wings,
a thing they like above everything else.
Flying is their life.
Anything which contributes to this
motion makes bird happy.
So, put the pan of water across the
yard from the feeding place. In this
way the songsters get water and sport
at the same time.
The only feeding station which may
contain spot of water is the window
sill feeder. The pan should be no more
than a small bowl. Thick glass ash
trays are good. They will hold water
without breaking when freezing sets in.
Such bowl of water in the window
sill feeding station makes feeding and
watering of the birds all easy in one
operation While the window is up the
seed may be put in and fresh water put
out.
For other situations, an old pie pan
or the like may be used, and preferably
is placed at least 10 feet or more from
the feeding station. If put in the sta
ton, squirrel is almost sure to upset it.
Large crockery saucers, such as used
for the large flower pots, are always
good. Even if freezing breaks them,
they are easily and cheaply replaced.
Such bowl is best sunk in the flower
border
AS for feeding the birds from the
ground, without the use of any built
station, there is nothing against it at all.
Certainly it is the natural thing, and
birds always like what is natural.
Often some preferred sunny spot may
be selected by the birds themselves. That
is, if the watcher keeps tab on them, he
will see that they prefer some one place.
Put the food there, then, and be
assured that it is safe place, for the
feasters can see in all directions.
Often place in a border by the fence
is the best of all If there are vines, so
much the better, for birds like to fly up
in the vines at any noises which worry
them.
Rose vines are particularly good for
birds. They do not mind the thorns in
the least. In fact, a rose vine is pre-
ferred by them above all others.
It is a good thing to make a dust
place for them some distance away
This is a place which is kept mulched
as much as possible. The dust attracts
them much as talcum does some hu-
mans. Members of the sparrow clans
revel in the dust bath. A few hops of
the wings shakes it all out, and the
bird feels better, evidently. From such
place he also gets small bits of grit,
which aid him in digesting his dinner.
Feeding the wintering birds may be
made as simple or as elaborate as any
one desires. Rest assured that the birds
do not mind the service, just so long as
the food is good-and plentiful.