Evening star., 1947-03-11
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdceiuell
"P STREET" "

Dear Sir:
II wonder II you would send me. as
q reader Of your interesting column.
the correct specifications of a bird
house which will attract cardinals-if
there is such q house.
Thanking you in advance, am,
"Very sincerely yours, x. S. B."
Cardinals are not hole-nesting species
They seldom If ever use box, although
many kind-hearted persons hope they
will. Mostly such boxes are used by
squirrels, who gnaw the entrance hole
larger.
Since this is the time OF the year
for putting out bird houses, let it be
stated that the two most useful sizes
are those for the house wren and blue
bird. Two others Of more or less gen.
eral usefulness are for crested n.y.
catchers and hickers.
It Is best, however, to have the bird
you want in mind and then to build
specifically for him.
The house for the common wren Is
made as follows: The floor of the box,
4 by inches; depth of box, to 8
inches; the hole above floor, to 6
inches; diameter Of hole, l inch. The
box is best placed from to 10 feet
above the ground.
The bluebird house Is as follows:
Floor Of box, by inches; depth of
box, inches; diameter of entrance
IA inches: hole above floor inches.
Bluebird houses are best placed low,
or 5 feet from the ground on q solid
support, preferably post. Under no
circumstances should the house be
placed higher than 10 feet. Low place
ment will keep English sparrows away
The crested fycatcher house is made
as follows: Floor Of house, by 6
inches; depth Of box, to 10 inches;
diameter of hole, inches; hole above
floor, 6 to 8 inches; height above ground,
to 20 feet.
This hycatcher likes a snake skin to
protrude from the box but most house.
holders will not be able to supply this
item. This Is one box best covered with
bark
The house for the flicker is built as
follows: Floor Of box, by inches;
depth of box. 16 to 18 inches; diameter
of hole, inches; hole above floor, IA
to 16 inches and height of box above
ground, to 20 feet
These larger boxes are best fastened
to the trunk Of large tree.
All the above dimensions may be re-
garded as official, since they have been
worked out by the United States Fish
and Wild Life Service.
The inclination Of the average en-
thusiast is to put up too many bird
houses. This comes about because it is
fun to make them, and because one
emissions happy birds nesting all over
the place.
Experienced people, however. say that
the number of boxes should not be more
than three or four to the acre. The
number must vary, however. according
neighborhood. Paintings that attract
them and food supplies have much to
do with it. This column once printed
a letter from q gentleman who swore
that he had more than 20 bird families
in a1ittle over an acre. That, Of course,
would be every ones ideal, but most Of
us need not expect it.
On an average lot Of so by $50 feet
three or four houses will be a great
plenty. In most cases the two stand
ard houses, those for bluebird and
house wren, will be enough.
Bird houses may be left unpainted.
In time they weather to q color har-
monizing with the outdoors. If painted,
dark grays and browns and green's are
preferred by the birds, but houses may
be painted white, too. They may, in
deed, be painted red. even, but our per-
sonal opinion is that birds do not like
the brighter colors.
After the houses are up. which should
be as soon now as possible, it is best
not to worry about them, or who comes
to take over. Leave such matters to
nature. Man has interfered with her
too much already,