Evening star., 1948-03-30
This and That
BIZ Charles z. TrdceUeL.
MCKINLEY STREET.

Dear Sir;
Il recently put up wren house in anticipa-
ton of the arrival of the little birds
The very next day who should pay 1t a
visit but pair Of chickadees!
"On three successive days they came, acting,
in some respects, very like human couple in
specting q prospective apartment.
"One Of the pair would enter the box while
his mate flew from branch to branch first to
the right. then to the left, then above-all the
while looking the house over most intently.
"As soon as the interior inspector popped
out of the box, he went through the same
careful examination on the outside, and. the
other little creature took over the inside job.
This procedure was repeated several times
ON all three days
But four days have gone by since then, and
1t begins to look as II they have turned down
the proposition to rent-in these days, mind
you!
What stumps me is how the chickadees
could get in and out Of the entrance hole
which is only the size OF a quarter? I had
believed this size limited its use to the house
wren.
do you suppose that possibly their instinct
told them that while the entrance is large
enough now. it may not be so later on, when
they have fattened up a bit as the result of
the more plentiful summer food supply? Or Is
this a cock-eyed idea, would you say9
Sincerely yours, G. NJ r."
Cock-eyed. we would say.
The house wren is 5 inches in length, the
chickadees less than an inch longer
The entrance hole for the wren is l inch
that for the chickadee house but one-eighth
of an inch wider.
Parent birds are at their thinnest when they
are chasing up food for the nestlings.
Perhaps the appearance of the box did not
appeal to the pair Of chickadees These birds
prefer bark-covered house.
That is why they often take to woodpecker
holes in old trees old stumps or fence posts.
If they will use a. msn-made house at all. 1t
is best covered with bark to make it resemble
natural woodpecker house.
An average wren house is sometimes taken
by the chicks but they often leave 1t, as de-
tailed above, If it is not covered with bark.
A bark-covered house sometimes leads them
to accept 1t as sleeping quarters in winter, and
then they may continue its use for nesting.
Not many birds accept such places for sleep
ing. being content with an evergreen or some
shrub.
If one desires to make a house" particularly
for chickadees, here are the measurements:
Floor, by inches; depth, to 10 inches;
diameter of entrance, one and one ne-eighth
inches; height of hole above floor, to- 8
inches. and placement of box, to Is feet above
ground.
For the tufted ttmouse, the same house may
~ inches in diameter.
house for either chickadee or titmouse is
best covered with bark. as explained; and the
builder should not be too much disappointed
II neither bird accepts 1t, or If common spar
rows take 1t over
The chickadee likes to use hair from small
animals and feathers, for his nest, but the
titmouse contents himself with moss, leaves,
and bark strips, and, when he can get 1t,
either horse or cattle hair.
Excellent bird houses for wren, titmouse and
chickadee may be made by handyman from
sections Of log. Sometimes fireplace wood is
large enough for this use A section about 8
or 10 inches long is used, and followed out.
but leaving plenty of thickness. and the bark
untouched, of course. The entrance hole is
bored as directed, and of the proper size
exactly.
A few shavings may be placed In the bottom
The bottom should be left at least an inch
thick. A slab, with bark on. should be nailed
across the top for roof. and so may be made
to stick out bit. perch is unnecessary in
fact rather an invitation to other birds to stand
on it and peck ut the eggs