Evening star., 1947-12-08
This and That
By Charles E. Tracepell

'LEONARDTOWN, Md.
Dear Sir:
I'VE have recently built home near
Leonardtown There are lots of birds around
here, and I would like to do something to
attract and keep them around. I would like
directions for building a bird house and some
idea as to the best place to put it.
Il am enclosing rough sketch of the prop
erty, in the hope that it may help you tell me
the best place to put feeding station Do
you have plans for feeding station?
Il noticed last year that great many birds
seemed to enjoy picking the petals from
flowers, and then eating the seeds. After the
flowers had finished blooming, picked and
dried them. Will they be acceptable to the
birds II scatter them in the vegetable garden
now?
I love birds, and this is the first chance
I have had to actually have them in my own
yard so any information you can give me will
be more than appreciated.
What kind of birds can expect this winter?
Sincerely, P. M"
II y
Ones first winter In new place, especially
II birds are part of the picture, is an enviablc
experience.
There is 50 much to do, and so little time in
which to do 1t.
The birds help.
Their picturesque grace, their ability to
stand intense cold and yet to chirp, their
beauty
These enliven the winter scene, and help
the newcomers to begin to feel at home.
Nothing makes the suburban Or country
resident feel more at home. Birds SO ind,lbt-
tably feel, themselves, that they belong wher-
ever they are, that something carries out and
over from them. That is onesreason why 1t is
good to be interested in them. Human beings
are increasingly, these days. feeling Ill at ease
in their environment. 1t is good to look out the
window and watch creatures that have no
| doubts.
About 70 species winter in this vicinity.
| Some of them are the nuthatch chicadee,
cardinal, downy woodpecker, song sparrow,
bluebird, mockingbird, dove, titmouse, brown
| creeper, starting common sparrow.
The two best bird houses for the average
| yard are for the bluebrd and house wren Soft
| thick wood Is best used, made as follows: For
| the bluebird-hoor. by inches; Depth 8
inches; diameter of entrance, ~ inches;
height of hole above floor, 6 inches place
the wren-foor, by inches, DEPTH 6 to 8
inches; hole above floor, to 6 inches;> diam
eter of entrance, inch, and height above
| ground, to 10 feet
One of the best feeding stations is simple
| tray at window sill, with ledge around it.,
and perhaps roof over it. This also may be
| put on stake. The best place Is where it is
seen easily and comfortably from inside.
| An old table with bit of moulding built
around the edge, will do nicely. Birds may be
fed on the ground. They seem to like this
method as well as any. Feed, after ALL is what
they are looking for in the cold. Chicken
| scratch feed, or baby chick feed, may be used.
| These are best spiked" with handful of sun
| flower seed.
Some species eat the flower petals in summer.
1t would be interesting to put them out in
| winter, but probably the birds will not pay
| much attention to them.
It is a good idea, in addition to the formal
feeding station, to set up another feeding
| place. on the other side of the house.
Bread and suet appeal to starAngs, so these
| should not be used too much, If one does not
like these particular birds. But, of course,
other species like suet and good beef suet
should be fed from time to time, In any event.
A shallow pan of water is best put out in the
middle afternoon, and not too close to the
feeding places.
| BY consistency In these matters, many birds
may be attracted to new place as well as to an
old one. We believe that red paint is not advis-
! able, either cn bird houses or feeding stations,
| but almost any other soft color may be used,
] with dark green, brown and gray the best.
Bird houses, too, may be placed best where
seen best from the house. The three trees in
the plan sent by this correspondent offer fine
/ places for them feeding station might be
placed. too. On one Of these trees