Evening star., 1949-11-11
This and That
By Charles E. TraceveH

Where Is the best location for the home
yard bird feeding station?
This Is q question often asked and, like
so many questions, cannot be answered with
Just one answer.
There are as many good locations as there
are people, perhaps, for the best" location
depends so much upon the watcher
The birds take food, where they find it.
II feeding device is placed near window.
or even on window sill, the birds will come
to 1t. although maybe not the very first day
II the feeder is out in the center OF the
yard. the wintering songsters will eat there,
too, even more readily. If it is on a tree
the birds come there happily enough, since
trees and birds go together.
II the station Is at the rear of the yard.
this situation offers some advantages. espe-
cially at first, as the more timorous birds
are likely to come to 1t quicker.
= **&
There is. then. no really best place. unless
for an invalid watch, and then the best
and often the only situation is on q window
SILL
Such placement offers some advantages,
such as ease Of filling and cleaning.
1t also delights the birds, and to an Ill
person. especially in bed, 1t may literally
be lifesaver.
But the best all-around place is on a stake
or pipe few feet from downstairs window.
This means that some form of feeding
station which can keep seed and grain dry
is placed on the end of pipe or stake sunk
into the ground. It is as simple as that.
A metal pipe Is best, since 1t is easiest
sunk, and lasts the longest.
The feeding station goes on top, and
should be at such height that the birds
may be easily seen from inside.
This may take some experimenting, since
1t is not good to have to get up from an
easy chair. let us say, to see your birds.
An especially fetching arrangement Is to
have the station so placed outside the VIM
dow that 1t may be seen easily from the
dining room table.
In this way, on cold mornings. human
beings and birds seem to eat breakfast to-
gether.
This is a peculiarly delightful arrange
ment to children.
Tie-back curtains are good for all such
windows, since they give the restive birds
some protection, or so they think, from
humans too close, and at the same time
have the merit of remaining untouched.
There is nothing that will frighten birds
away SO quickly as moving curtain = few
inches from them.
All feeding stations shoam have some ar
rangement whereby the food is kept covered
This is best secured by q hopper. containing
the seed, feeding into narrow mouth at
the bottom into the platform Of the station.
Gravity does it, here as elsewhere: 1t is q
simple arrangement. but very satisfactory
to all concerned.
# the station is close 70 a window, the
manager may lean out and fill 1t on inclem-
ent days with no more trouble than rails
ing window.
Human beings may watch such a close-in
feeding station from ringside seat. as 1t
were.
When so seated, however, they should not
make precipitate movements. If possible
Cats love to watch such feeder in full
swing, and the birds-and squirrels-soon
overcome their fright
They seem at last to feel the unreality Of
the animals so close to them, and to regard
them as just part of the inner scenery with
which they have nothing to do.
Even cats in time learn to watch peace
fully. without trying to catch the birds, and
so may be said to regard the songsters as
just part Of the outer scenery, like trees or
bushes
A word must be said against taking sidesn
about some Of the creatures that come for
food. II you can accept them al, you are
much happier. and get more out Of your
expenditure. To grow red In the face because
. squirrel accepts your free lunch Is to lose
both poise and experience Jays and common
sparrows, and even old starlings and pigeons,
.r' birds y veil E any.