Evening star., 1948-03-29
This and That
By Charles E. TraceyeH

How to make bird houses from what you
have handy is told by an Arlington, Va,
woman.
Mrs. H. T. M. of North Lincoln street writes:
There are seven bird houses. One is in the
fork of a dead hickory tree with fungus all
over it, that has been cut off about Is feet
from the ground.
1.-THE box is covered with the bark Of the
same tree, and is scarcely discernable
Another Is made from a 14-inch log from
the same tree sawed in half and followed out,
and nailed back together, with entrance in one
end and both ends covered with bark from the
tree. This one is placed in the fork of big
maple tree.
Another bird house is made from q one
pound coffee can, painted dark brown. The
tin from the opening was pulled down to the
bottom, and Strengthened out for perch.
"A baking powder can top was cut out and
fitted into the opening and hammered into
place and made smooth.
''One Is made of the outer shell Of a coeonut
hand painted with scene from Jacksonville,
Fla. 1t was sawed in half, lengthwise, and the
coconut and fibre chiseled out (Which is very
hard task, and took considerable time)
An ice pick was used to make holes along
the sawed edges and small wires were used
to sew the shells together again. An opening
was cut in the small end to accommodate the
wrens. A small round perch was placed be-
meath the opening by making hole with the
ice pick and a small knife and driving the
coat of shellac and hung with a wire on q
tree few feet from my kitchen window
Being woman of 70 years old, feel proud
Of my accomplishments as a bird feeder and
brd-house builder, but after patting myself on
the back for months, thinking I had outwitted
the shrewd squirrel, was astonished one day
to find a squirrel in one of my squirrel-proof
boxes. I wonder how he got there.
Il soon found out, little later in the day.
They were scampering up the bamboo poles
I had used as II they were trees!
II have five feeding stations, two made
with a shingle roof, closed on three sides, with
three-inch piece of glass which slides in
place, and can be removed, across the 16-inch
back Of the feeder, for keeping out the cold
winds and afording more light.
These feeders are mounted on the bamboo
poles, by an inch block nailed to the feeder
with hole to f1t over the pole
AN iron pipe, IL inches long, large enough
to carry the bottom of the pole, is driven
into the ground for the foundation.
'These, I hoped. were squirrel-proofl
"The kitchen window sill feeder is IL by 18
inches, and has glass top.
"One open feeder about 80 by 80 inches Is
attached to a large maple.
There is one especially made for the
squirrels, using heavy board rounded at the
ends. It is about the size of breakfast plate.
and is nailed to the stump of tree cut of
about feet from the ground.
In addition to the food put In the feeding
stations, this correspondent says that she puts
out quantities Of grain, bread and scraps on
the driveway in a sheltered spot for the spar
rows and starlings to try, If possible, to keep
them out of the feeding stations
I'VE have thousands of starlings here" she
continues, "and I think I am feeding about
$50 sparrows that made their home in
large brush pile on my neighbor's lot"
This letter shows how one can make the
most OF what is at hand. Coconut shells are
favorites of house wrens. A coconut shell hung
by wire to an arch, and filled with seed, will
attract birds-and squirrels. The antics of the
latter in trying to get to the shell will afford
many hours Of amusement.
It is perhaps best not to make bird houses
out of metal. Unless they are well shaded.
they are likely to build up too much heat for
the young In the summer.
Soft thick wood, pecially old tree trunks
and large limbs. bark on. make fine
bird houses.