Evening star., 1949-04-01
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,1ell

'TAKOMA PARK.
Dear Sir:
rs it too late to put out bird iaouses9
I understand that the bluebirds already
have come. and that the wrens are about due.
rs there still any chance to get bluebirds?
Should I make the houses, or buy them
ready made?
Are the latter all right?
rs 1t worth while, in your opinion, to put
out houses u all?
"sincsrsly yours. D. x. s."
II any houses are already up, and still un-
occupied last years nests should be removed
at once.
Birds do not like A. dirty residence any
more than any one else does.
1t Is not too late to put up new houses
One may or may not get bluebirds, since
the first nesting is begun, but there is still
q chance
Experts insist that one should never build
or buy house Just for birds, but for bird.
That is. select the bird you would like to
have. and build the house that suits him.
This may or may not draw him. but 1t Is
better than shotgun method
+
II houses are made, wood Is the material
to use.
Under no circumstance use metals. These
are too hot.
The best number Of houses is three or
four to the acre. but many persons insist
that this is far too few. One man said that
he had 40 boxes to the acre, all doing well,
thank you. but this must have been some
special circumstance. Certainly the average
small place can stand no such number. On
small suburban lot. say so by $50 feet,
two or three houses are enough, and then
the birds may ignore them and prefer bushes.
But the birds are not the only factor in
bird houses. by any means. The other factor
Is the human one; every person who likes
to tinker can get fun out of building and
putting up bird houses.
1t is not difficult.
Almost any old wood will do preferably
soft.
Pine is excellent.
1t should be as thick as can be secured
and worked. The plans are simplicity itself
Build them almost any design, with q roof
Of ones choice. Wood is good
Houses are best painted white. gray brown
or green. They should not be put out until
thoroughly dry
Unpainted houses soon weather to a good
color.
Bluebird and house wren are the most
popular species.
4uCu uOdoCS arc uluQc dS 1OllUWS. wren
floor, 4 by inches; depth, 6 to inches;
entrance. inch in diameter; height of hole
above floor, 5 to 6 inches; placement Of box.
s to 10 feet above ground.
Bluebird-door, by inches; depth, 8
inches: entrance. ih inches: hole above
floor. inches; height above ground. to 10
feet.
Many drug. hardware. department and
novelty stores sell wren houses at this time.
Most Of them are neat, and properly de-
signed. 1t might be a good idea to take
along a ruler. and carefully measure the
diameter of the entrance. Entrances too
wide will permit many larger birds to poster
both wrens and bluebirds. This may still
happen. even with the right width. but it
will not be too bad. then.
Is 1t worth while to put out houses at all?
Assuredly. There is a certain pleasure in
it, just the purchasing or making, and the
putting UP. Making Is the best. of course.
because the more Of ones self Is put IN
them the more fun and expectation.
A bird house can be lovely creation. re-.
plete with neat shingles. ETC.. On the other
hand. q simple box may do Just as well.
It all depends upon the birds.
No one should be too upset II no birds
take over. That Is In the lap OF the gods.
as IL were, just rs 50 many matters are.
Put UP the houses. now or even later. and
forget about them for time. That Is the
best way. Then. II you suddenly find them
occupied. there win be all the more thrill.