,,bird ,,houses ,,baths ,,and ,,feeding ,,shelters ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,and ,,where ,,to ,,place ,,them ,,edmund ,j4 ,,sawyer ,illustration3 ,wren ,,cranbrook ,,institute ,,of ,,science ,bulletin ,no4 #a1 ,fifth ,edition ,fifth ,edition ,copyright #aiee by ,the ,cranbrook ,institute of ,science ,bloomfield ,hills1 ,michigan ,first printed as ,bird ,houses ,first ,edition1 ,march1 #aica1 #bjjj copies ,second ,edition1 ,february1 #aich1 #aejj copies ,revised and enlarged to include western species1 baths1 and shelters ,third ,edition1 ,december1 #aidj1 #cjjj copies ,fourth ,edition1 ,june1 #aidd1 #ejjj copies ,june1 #aiea1 #djjj copies ,fifth ,edition1 ,july1 #aiee1 #fjjj copies ,september1 #aifc1 #ejjj copies ,printed by ,litho-,art1 ,inc41 from type set and printed by the ,cranbrook ,press ,,table ,,of ,,contents ,foreword #e ,bird ,houses and ,common ,sense #g ,some ,current ,notions ,corrected #g ,general and ,miscellaneous #aa ,material #aa ,entrance #aa ,nails #ac ,slabs #ac ,facilities for ,house ,cleaning #ac ,position of ,boxes #ac ,undesired ,tenants #ad ,thickets #ae ,dimensions for ,various ,houses #af ,house ,wren #ah ,other ,wrens #ah ,black-capped ,chickadee #ah ,other ,chickadees #ai ,white-breasted ,nuthatch #bj ,other ,nuthatches #bj ,tufted ,titmouse #bj ,tree ,swallow #ba ,other ,swallows #ba ,eastern ,bluebird #ba ,other ,bluebirds #bb ,crested ,flycatcher #bb ,flickers #bc ,purple ,martin #be ,tree-nesting ,ducks #bg ,hawks and ,owls #bh ,common ,house ,finch #bi ,robin and ,phoebe #bi ,bird ,baths #cc ,food ,stations #ce ,,illustrations ,bluebirds #d ,nesting ,sites1 ,natural and ,artificial #i ,the ,best and ,most ,simple ,form of ,artificial ,nesting ,site #ab ,discouraging the ,uninvited ,guest #ad ,a ,simple and ,effective ,box ,bird ,house #ag ,a ,chickadee ,family #ai ,the ,martin ,house #bd ,nesting ,house for ,ducks #bf ,an ,easy-to-make ,box #bg ,nest ,boxes for the ,house ,finch #cj ,nesting ,shelves for ,robins and ,phoebes #cj1 #ca ,bird ,baths #cb ,types of ,feeding ,stations #cd ,drinking and ,bathing ,station for ,winter ,use #cf ,wood ,ducks ,back ,cover ,illustration3 ,bluebirds ,foreword ,most species of the smaller birds which nest in hollow trees1 and therefore in bird houses1 suffer seriously from intrusion by ,english ,sparrows and ,european ,starlings4 ,these two species1 nesting in similar locations and being prolific1 tend to take up all available nesting cavities1 even ejecting native birds which have built or begun to build4 ,this condition1 already serious1 may become far more baneful than we are as yet able to realize4 ,it may even contribute to the eventual extinction of ,bluebirds1 ,crested ,flycatchers1 and ,purple ,martins unless we provide nesting sites sufficient in number and suitable in kind for all4 ,the number of natural nesting sites is already far below that required by these birds1 and yet the ,starlings in particular are increasing alarmingly4 ,there is no way to determine when a final adjustment or balance will be reached or what the numerical status of our native bird-house dwellers will be when such balance shall have been attained4 ,in the case of the native species named above1 we can at least help by providing proper nesting boxes which will induce the birds to concentrate about our houses1 where the ,european ,starling and the ,english ,sparrow menace may be more easily and effectively met than elsewhere4 ,the reader should note that the imported ,english ,sparrow1 which is in reality a weaver finch and unrelated to our tuneful native sparrows1 is the only sparrow east of the ,rocky ,mountains that nests in holes or bird houses4 ,the shyer1 more desirable1 native species are invariably harmless and should be both protected and encouraged4 ,the smaller of the bird-house species1 such as the ,house ,wren1 ,tree ,swallow1 ,black-capped ,chickadee1 ,white-breasted ,nuthatch1 and ,tufted ,titmouse are less affected by the intruders4 ,these smaller birds can use1 and usually select1 cavities with openings too small for either ,starling or ,english ,sparrow to enter4 ,however1 there is still a distinct practical advantage in providing proper boxes for ,house ,wrens and other small species4 ,in many instances these birds fail to find places safe from the ubiquitous ,english ,sparrow and ,european ,starling1 which then proceed in their well-known manner to work destruction4 ,a properly made wren house1 chickadee house1 or swallow house can be absolutely safe from the foreign invaders4 ,more nesting sites1 properly made and situated1 are desirable1 owing to the destruction of birds' traditional nesting sites over wide acreages about cities and other settled areas1 but the providing of suitable bird houses needs no defense or excuse4 ,whether it be the beautiful and demure bluebird1 bird of happiness1 the sleek and immaculate swallow1 the songful wren1 saucy and impudent1 the bustling and industrious chickadee1 or the alert and noisy flycatcher1 the native tenant of the bird house will be an interesting and entertaining neighbor1 always prompt to pay his rent in one form or another or in many forms and with interest4 ,does one need any special excuse for offering hospitality to such a neighbor8 ,when birds nest on our home grounds1 their destruction of garden pests1 mosquitos1 gnats1 and other undesirable insects is concentrated where we can most directly profit from the results--our own greater comfort and safety1 better gardens1 more productive orchards1 more verdure in shade trees and in ornamental trees and shrubs4 ,bird ,houses and ,common ,sense ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,a ,although there are a number of points which should be considered in the proper designing and placing of a bird house1 there is one simple idea which practically covers the whole subject4 ,every species of our small native birds that nests in a bird house nested originally in a hollow tree1 by preference in a hollow of one unvarying type--the burrow made by a woodpecker4 ,thus we need only know what the burrow of a woodpecker is like and we have automatically solved in a general way the questions of material2 size and shape of entrance2 diameter1 depth and form of cavity2 height above ground2 and situation4 ,the nature of nesting material and its whereabouts should play absolutely no part in human plans for the prospective tenants4 ,unfurnished rooms are the only kind for which birds are looking4 ,there is solid ground for assuming a woodpecker's burrow to be the ideal pattern for a bird house4 ,the woodpecker1 whatever its species1 free to excavate any form of chamber that it might wish1 invariably uses one type of burrow4 ,the birds which by preference habitually adopt for their own use the woodpecker's abandoned home have likewise thus placed their own age-old stamp of approval on that type4 ,it is logical to assume1 therefore1 that the artificial bird house should follow at least the general plan of that long-tried and preeminently successful nesting site4 ,since a theory may be plausible while yet utterly untenable in actual application1 it remains to add that abundance of experience in building and placing bird houses all goes to prove the foregoing basic principle soundly correct in practice4 ,with or without benefit of the plans and specifications in such a bulletin as this1 a person who takes his cue from a woodpecker will not go far wrong4 ,in planning a bird house1 we must continually hark back to the idea of the woodpecker's burrow--or rather1 we should never quite lose sight of it4 ,some ,current ,notions ,corrected ,attention should be called to some common misconceptions4 ,the colony bird house1 or any bird house with more than one compartment1 is always a mistake unless it has been designed for ,purple ,martins4 ,yet certain firms have for years been advertising wren houses of four or more chambers4 ,one who knows this pugnacious little bird tries in vain to imagine two pairs of wrens living peaceably under one small roof6 ,every bird house should consist of one1 and only one1 chamber--with the single exception of a house intended for the ,purple ,martin1 which nests in colonies4 ,the cubic capacity of the bird houses one sees is nearly always much too great--often several times too great4 ,builders seem to believe that the diameter of the nesting chamber should at least equal the total length of the bird--a theory as erroneous as it is plausible4 ,plate ,i illustrates the fact that the sitting bird normally occupies a space measuring much less from side to side than the outstretched length of the bird4 ,figure ,no4 #d1 ,plate ,i1 shows how much work is often made for the ,house ,wren1 while figure ,no4 #e1 on the same plate1 shows how greatly this work may be reduced--with the greater inducement to the prospective occupant4 ,the square or rectangular door is another frequent mistake--a projection of the designer's own plantigrade and vertical personality4 ,to place the entrance at or near floor level is also an error4 ,remember that birds close no doors against drafts1 that their beds are laid on the floor and consist of light straws1 feathers1 or other flimsy materials4 ,many a wren house with entrance 7as it should be7 too small for any ,english ,sparrow to enter1 is hung swinging from a branch as a further protection against the unwanted sparrow4 ,that is like beheading a criminal and then1 just to be on the safe side1 shooting him into the bargain6 ,it is said that wrens do not hesitate to use these swinging nesting sites1 but we have our serious doubts4 ,we have personally seen one instance of a wren nesting in the pensile home of a ,baltimore ,oriole1 but it is significant that in this case we failed to find any better site nearby4 ,some persons report success with this type of house and prefer it because of the ease of putting it up and taking it down without injury to a living tree4 ,two doors1 presumably entrance and exit1 to a bird house of one compartment is nearly as ridiculous an innovation as the two doors said to have been provided by a famous scientist for the use of his old cat and her kittens1 respectively4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,i4 ,nesting ,sites1 ,natural and ,artificial #a1 #b1 #c1 ,a nesting woodpecker1 a ,chickadee1 and a pair of bluebirds1 respectively4 ,compare length of bird with diameter of nesting chamber4 #d1 ,a wren house1 as frequently made1 of eight to ten times the necessary cubic capacity4 #e1 ,a wren house of proper and ample size4 ,overcrowding is a prevalent fault4 ,on an area insufficient properly to harbor two pairs of wrens or bluebirds there will often be a half-dozen or more bird houses4 ,tree ,swallows are social birds and will occupy boxes placed near to one another1 but ordinarily1 birds1 especially those of the same species1 do not build near each other4 ,it is a large town lot which will properly accommodate more than one pair of nesting wrens4 ,even the demure bluebirds do not like to build within a stone's throw of each other4 ,while the martin colony may number upward of a dozen pairs in the same house1 there may not be other martins within a mile4 ,there is many a small village whose single martin house accommodates all the martins to be found within a radius of several miles4 ,the size of entrance seems often to be a stumbling block4 ,one sees wren houses with perfect bluebird entrances1 and bluebird houses with doorways best suited to wrens or chickadees or1 at the other extreme1 to doves6 ,although arguments1 supported by some experience1 have been advanced for larger entrances1 we nevertheless suggest entrances of nearly minimum size--a suggestion based on personal experience and long familiarity with the preferences shown by the species concerned4 ,apparently ,john ,burroughs was first to point out that when birds hesitate to enter a small opening it is evidently because their bodies1 completely filling the entrance1 render the cavity totally dark and therefore alarming4 ,cut a few small auger holes to admit light1 and the bird enters the now somewhat less mysterious chamber4 ,the holes also provide needed ventilation1 but they should be small and well above the entrance-level1 for drafts must be avoided4 ,the entrance to the house for wren1 chickadee1 or ,tree ,swallow should be1 since it easily may be1 too small to admit ,english ,sparrows4 ,it is not possible to exclude ,english ,sparrows from houses of other birds in that way4 ,finally1 the mistake is often made of providing simply a bird house instead of a martin house1 a wren house1 a bluebird house1 or a house for some other definite species4 ,the result is that such houses usually go unoccupied or else are promptly claimed by the first ,english ,sparrows that spy them4 ,any bird house will suit the ,english ,sparrow if only he can get into it1 and he usually can get into a bird house4 ,so avoid type a--the too common variety4 ,general and ,miscellaneous ,material ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,w ,wood is the material par excellence for the bird house1 the only material which can be unreservedly recommended4 ,substitutes have been used with varying degrees of success or failure4 ,what glass is for the window1 wood is for the bird house4 ,first1 the birds are habituated to it4 ,it is a good nonconductor of heat1 it resists rain and extremes of temperature1 and it can be made to harmonize with its setting4 ,over a long period of time it improves1 rather than suffers1 from exposure to the weather4 ,soft wood with straight grain1 such as pine or spruce1 is preferable4 ,it is easily worked1 may be nailed with little danger of serious splitting1 and is sufficiently durable4 ,slab wood1 with or without the bark1 and old fence-boards make the most generally effective bird houses4 ,if new lumber is used1 it should be rough1 not planed2 whether rough or planed1 it should be treated with gray1 olive1 or dull brown stain of a medium shade4 ,there are numbers of suitable oil stains on the market4 ,the stain should permeate the grain of the wood1 without actually coating it as paint does4 ,thickness of the boards should not be far from #a inch4 ,if slab wood is used1 it may be anywhere from #c_/h inch at the edge1 up to about #b inches in the thickest part4 ,leave the matter of materials for the nest itself entirely to the birds4 ,not only is it quite unnecessary to place twigs1 straws1 strings1 or even choice feathers or other fluffy bits on or near the bird house1 but such action tends actually to defeat its own purpose4 ,the prospective tenants often seem to regard these well-meant efforts as evidence of a competitor who has the advantage of priority4 ,this is especially apt to be the case when the materials are placed inside the house4 ,birds will sometimes steal nesting sites and even the raw materials of others but may choose to avoid the clash which such piracy entails1 provided there are other sites and materials not too far to seek4 ,entrance ,there is always danger of the wood splitting when too large an auger hole is attempted4 ,before assembling the bird house1 make an entrance in the front board4 ,start by drawing a circle the exact size of the doorway-to-be4 ,then1 just inside this circle1 bore four holes at equal intervals1 using a bit not larger than #c_/h inch for the smaller entrances2 not larger than inch for the larger entrances4 ,it will now be not too difficult1 by use of a keyhole saw or pocketknife and wood-rasp1 to remove the wood still remaining inside the drawn circle4 ,placing the board horizontally in a vice will further insure against splitting while the holes are being bored4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,,ii4 ,the ,best and ,most ,simple ,form of ,artificial ,nesting ,site ,with dimensions appropriate to the species1 this is the most generally attractive type of house for all species excepting the ,purple ,martin4 ,it is the type especially suited for the chickadee1 nuthatch1 and ,tufted ,titmouse4 #a ,,the ,,block ,,sawed ,,around 7,,to ,,dotted ,,line7 ,,and ,,split ,,in ,,two4 #b ,,hollowed ,,out ,,holes ,,drilled ,,for ,,entrance ,,and ,,for ,,fastening ,,pegs4 #c1 #d1 ,,and #e ,,show ,,that ,a ,,nest ,,is ,,not ,,disturbed ,,by ,,opening ,,house ,,to ,,inspect4 #f ,,the ,,artificial ,,woodpecker ,,hole ,,in ,,place4 ,,note ,,fastenings ,,for ,,front1--,,wood ,,pegs4 #g ,,tools ,,for ,,obtaining ,,and ,,working ,,the ,,material4 ,nails ,when a bird house is fastened to a support by the toe-nail method 7by driving nails at a slant through the sides and bottom71 it is a good point first to drill holes of the right diameter to fit the nails tightly2 otherwise splitting of the sides or bottom of the house may result4 ,use flat-headed nails4 ,slabs ,when slabs are used in house-building1 the upright pieces may be fastened to each other1 at intervals of several inches1 with a wire staple having -inch prongs one inch apart4 ,these should be on the outside of the house1 where rust will color them to conform with the rustic wood4 ,facilities for ,house ,cleaning ,for inspecting the nest and1 at the end of the season1 for cleaning out the old nest material1 the top or some other section of the house should always be easily removable4 ,exceptions to this rule are houses for ducks and other larger birds1 for which the entrance may be large enough and the depth not too great for all such purposes4 ,do not open a house in the owner's presence4 ,the more brief and infrequent your inspections1 the less they will disturb the birds4 ,position of ,boxes ,bird houses erected on poles are safer from predators than those placed in trees4 ,houses for ,purple ,martins1 in particular1 need to be at a distance from trees and buildings1 and if possible near water4 ,place your bird house where the sun will reach it during part of the day1 and turn the entrance away from the prevailing winds4 ,it seems hardly necessary to emphasize that1 if possible1 the bird house1 as well as the bird bath and feeding station1 should be placed in full view of a convenient window4 ,to watch birds in their building and other activities will prove a fascinating pleasure4 ,undesired ,tenants ,the author once with complete success contrived and operated a mechanical bouncer to meet a particular and aggravated instance of bird trespassers4 ,in case of interference with any desired tenant or prospective tenant by rivals for the same bird house1 the interfering birds may be driven away by this device4 ,illustration3 ,figure #a4 ,discouraging the ,uninvited ,guest4 ,one end of a stout cord is attached at some point close below the bird house4 ,to this cord a rag or a piece of waxed paper about man's-handkerchief size is tied as conspicuously as possible at a distance from the fastened end of the cord about equal to the height of the bird house4 ,the cord's free end is then carried through a window of your own house from which there is a convenient view of the bird box4 ,the end of the cord is fastened inside the window where it can be easily reached and jerked1 enough slack being allowed to let the rag at the other end hang down4 ,if the unwanted birds appear on or too close to the bird house1 the cord is given a sharp pull which will cause the rag to jerk upward and frighten the intruder away4 ,repeat as often as occasion requires4 ,care should be taken to work the bouncer when only the undesired birds are within effective distance4 ,however1 should the contending birds actually come to bodily grips on or beside the nesting site1 the fight may be broken up by vigorous operation of the alarm4 ,the author found that this device1 exercised as occasion required1 in two days ended a week-old continuous struggle between a ,bluebird and a pair of ,tree ,swallows in which the ,bluebird had entirely defeated the daily efforts of the ,swallows to start a nest4 ,the ,swallows were left in possession1 quickly built their nest1 and duly raised their brood4 ,obviously1 this device and procedure may be applied against ,starlings1 ,english ,sparrows1 or other birds1 regardless of species1 which for any reason one desires to discourage from building in a given bird house or other nesting-site4 ,the use of a rag or similar object1 instead of a bell or other noisemaker1 is advised because the range of alarm is thereby limited to the immediate location of the bird house1 so that the desired tenants will not be frightened by the operation of the alarm when they are within hearing4 ,thickets ,reserves of the favorite environment are as much a need for some species as bird houses are for others4 ,widespread improvement and beautification along roadsides is destroying the thicket1 the favored haunt of ,song ,sparrows1 ,catbirds1 certain warblers1 quail1 and other desirable species4 ,a reserve thicket may be located in a secluded part of the home grounds1 hidden by a hedge if considered unsightly4 ,it may be almost any shape1 but not less than #bj feet in average diameter or much less than #djj square feet in area4 ,here weeds1 tall grass1 briars1 and dense bushes are allowed to grow wild1 forming a tangle as they will4 ,if the bushes include such kinds as hackberry1 hawthorn1 sumac1 elderberry1 and chokecherry1 the thicket's annual period of usefulness will be extended4 ,including such a winter food tree as the mountain ash will invite ,purple ,finches1 ,pine ,siskins1 grosbeaks1 waxwings1 and perhaps crossbills4 ,dimensions for ,various ,houses ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,f ,following are specifications and remarks on the housing requirements of the birds by species4 ,for related forms not included in the table see text4 ,table ,i ,diameter ,depth ,diameter ,distance of from of from interior entrance entrance ground to 7inches7 7inches7 7inches7 entrance 7feet7 ,house ,wren #d-e #g-i #a #h-ah ,black-capped ,chickadee #c-d #g-i #a-a_/h #h-ae ,white-breasted ,nuthatch1 #c-d #h-aj #a #ab-be ,tufted ,titmouse ,tree ,swallow #d-e #f-h #a-c_/h #h-cj ,eastern ,bluebird #d-e #h-aj #a-e_/h #h-bj ,crested ,flycatcher #e-f #i-ab #b-a_/h #ae-dj ,flicker #f-g #ab-af #b #aj-ce ,purple ,martin #f-g #f-h #b-a_/h-b #ab-ad ,wood ,duck1 ,hooded ,merganser #g #ab-ae #d #aj-bj ,sparrow ,hawk #f-g #ad-af #c #bj-ej ,saw-whet ,owl #f-g #ad-af #b-g_/h #ae-de ,screech ,owl #g-h #ad-af #c #ae-cj ,nesting ,box ,common ,house ,finch #d-f ,open #aj-cj ,nesting ,shelves ,width ,length ,height 7inches7 7inches7 from ground 7feet7 ,robin #e-f #h or more #h-cj ,phoebe #c-d #g or more #h-bj ,illustration3 ,plate ,,iii4 ,a ,simple and ,effective ,box ,bird ,house ,for ,house ,wrens1 ,bluebirds1 and ,tree ,swallows1 especially4 ,for these the house may be of weathered fence-boards or even1 if need be1 of new lumber stained some dull tint4 ,for chickadees1 nuthatches1 and ,tufted ,titmice1 rough slab material is preferable4 ,dimensions given are for the ,house ,wren4 ,for other species1 see ,table ,i4 ,,top 7,,inside73 #g;,,in4 x #g;,,in4 ,,edge3 ,,in4 x #i;,,in4 ,,side3 x #d;,,in4 ,,front 7,,inside73 x #e;,,in4 ,,hole ,,diameter3 ,,in4 ,,back 7,,outside73 #g;,,in4 x #e;,,in4 ,,bottom3 #d;,,in4 x #d;,,in4 ,,construction ,,the ,,fastening ,,on ,,front ,,of ,,lid ,,the ,,hinge ,,on ,,back ,,of ,,lid ,the ,house ,wren ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,n ,nesting in all sorts of nooks and crannies1 the ,house ,wren is easily satisfied4 ,moreover1 this is often the only desirable species which can be induced to build in so civilized and restricted a place as a small city lot4 ,slab construction may be employed or old weathered boards used1 but new lumber seems nearly or quite as welcome to the wren4 ,plate ,,iii illustrates a wren house and gives directions for building4 ,distance from the ground to the entrance of the house should be from #h to #ah feet4 ,the place safest from cats is on the side of a building4 ,if the box is on a tree or wooden post1 protection is afforded by a band of smooth sheet metal such as zinc1 #b feet high1 starting not less than #d feet from the ground or other point that is within reach of cats4 ,two or three wren houses spaced as far apart as the yard or garden allows will provide for the duplicate1 unused1 nests which these birds often build1 or for a possible second brood4 ,other ,wrens ,for the ,bewick's ,wren1 which commonly nests around gardens1 barns1 and dwellings1 the building directions are the same as for the ,house ,wren4 ,the ,carolina ,wren of the south1 more inclined to seek woods and thickets than to court man's society1 is not ordinarily a bird house tenant4 ,still1 a home like that described for the ,house ,wren1 but with the entrance having a diameter of #a inch1 is not unlikely to be selected by the ,carolina if placed in a brushy area frequented by him and not much frequented by humans4 ,the ,black-capped ,chickadee ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,l ,lacking the semi-domestic status of wren and martin1 the ,black-capped ,chickadee is not a regular bird-house addict4 ,he prefers the seclusion of some unfrequented wood4 ,yet1 not uncommonly1 he is enticed by a bird house4 ,the specifications and illustrations for the wren house will do for the chickadee4 ,however1 a cylindrical and smaller chamber with somewhat larger entrance 7#a-a_/h inch7 is more likely to appeal to his uneducated taste4 ,he is still a bird with the bark on1 and his house should be quite literally in keeping4 ,the author personally much prefers to select a hollow branch1 from which he cuts a foot-long section4 ,he then drills an entrance hole near one end1 nails a piece of slab in place for the bottom1 provides a removable lid of the same material1 and thus constitutes himself a proxy for the ,downy ,woodpecker in providing the chickadee with a home4 7,see ,plate ,,ii47 ,illustration3 ,figure #b4 ,a ,chickadee ,family4 ,a wood lot or a neglected old orchard bordering a wood is the place for the chickadee house4 ,see ,table ,i for measurements4 ,other ,chickadees ,the ,mountain and other chickadees share the natural nesting habits of the ,black-cap4 ,since this group is composed of birds of practically uniform size1 a house for any species should be the same as that described for the ,black-cap4 ,however1 chickadees are in general birds of the woods4 ,few or none come so near to being birds of home grounds as do the ,black-caps4 ,houses for them1 therefore1 will be appropriate chiefly about woods homes or camps4 ,the ,white-breasted ,nuthatch ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,a ,all that has been written of the chickadee and his housing problem applies also in a general way to the ,nuthatch1 except that a slightly larger entrance is needed for the latter bird 7see measurements in ,table ,i74 ,the ,nuthatch1 somewhat more than his second cousins1 the chickadees1 is given to natural knot-holes in living trees4 ,this propensity may well be humored by giving him a house of the hollowed-out trunk variety4 ,if the trunk or branch so hollowed out has a knot which can be made of proper size to serve for the entrance1 then that is to add the ultimate artistic finish1 the final delicate touch of nature4 ,see ,plate ,,ii4 ,other ,nuthatches ,the western subspecies of the ,white-breasted ,nuthatch occur chiefly in less settled or more restricted ranges1 and they are apt to be less accustomed to1 as well as less accessible for1 bird houses4 ,the ,red-breasted1 ,brown-headed1 and other small nuthatches share the hollow-tree nesting habit common to the family4 ,they prefer locations of the wilder kind1 so that the usual bird house is not likely to entice them away from less sophisticated haunts4 ,yet it appears likely that any of the species might select an imitation of its natural nesting site4 ,build as for the ,white-breasted1 except that the entrance should be but #a inch in diameter4 ,the ,tufted ,titmouse ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,t ,the ,tufted ,titmouse is common in the south1 where its distribution is also much more uniform than in the north4 ,in some places it has pushed far toward our northern border1 but there it is inclined to be of only local and irregular occurrence4 ,in general it becomes more and more a bird of the wilder areas as it advances northward4 ,usually a wood or woodside location will be the one most likely to entice this species to a bird house4 ,when and where the bird is found to linger about residences toward the nesting season1 the houses may be placed much as for the bluebird or wren1 but in a very quiet corner of the yard4 ,dimensions are given in ,table ,i 7page #af74 ,see also ,plates ,,ii and ,,iii4 ,the ,tree ,swallow ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,t ,the ,tree ,swallow is often a bird of the small city1 but may be expected more dependably in the country or in the rural community4 ,he is easily satisfied as to a nesting place but it is sometimes difficult or impossible for him to find a nook about our dwellings which is safe from the ,english ,sparrow's intrusion4 ,when nesting about inhabited buildings he cannot well afford to dispense with the vigilance of his human landlords4 ,small1 quiet1 and peace-loving1 he is a particularly poor match for the pugnacious sparrow4 ,specifications for the ,tree ,swallow house are given in ,table ,i4 ,see also ,plate ,,iii4 ,the inner wall1 between floor and entrance1 must be rough or provided with cleats1 in order to give the young a sure foothold4 ,several pairs of ,tree ,swallows will willingly nest near one another4 ,other ,swallows ,for the beautiful ,violet-green ,swallow build exactly as for the ,tree ,swallow4 ,where1 in the west1 both species occur1 there is the chance that a house intended for the ,violet-green will be taken by the ,tree ,swallow4 ,this chance1 otherwise more than an even one1 may be lessened by catering to the ,violet-green's observed choice of local haunts4 ,barn ,swallows will sometimes use ledges1 such as those described for the ,robin 7page #bi71 when these are sheltered4 ,the ,eastern ,bluebird ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,b ,beautiful1 cheerful1 demure1 raising two or more broods in the season1 always a picture of content in a cottage1 the ,bluebird is the all-round ideal tenant for the simple bird house4 ,he is1 however1 not a bird of the city1 nor always a bird of the village garden4 ,the suburbs1 especially the more secluded spots therein1 suit him much better4 ,he tends1 and that with ample reason1 to shrink from the society of ,english ,sparrows whose rough1 aggressive manners and harsh notes introduce discord into his naturally calm and peaceful existence4 ,by all means provide a house for this peerless tenant2 also be prepared to lend him all possible assistance in policing his property until the eggs are laid4 ,once the precious eggs are deposited1 trust the prospective parents to defend their treasure2 for even the ,bluebird is no exception to the general rule that a brooding bird will readily put an erstwhile successful bully to speedy and inglorious flight4 ,see ,plate ,,iii and ,table ,i for housing the ,bluebird4 ,to provide for a second nesting and possibly a third1 the procedure should be the same as that described for the ,house ,wren4 ,see1 therefore1 directions given for that species4 ,other ,bluebirds ,the ,western ,bluebird fills the same role on the ranges and ranches that is taken on the smaller farms of the east by his eastern namesake4 ,build and place the house for the one precisely as for the other4 ,the western bird seems much more inclined than the eastern to adopt nesting sites in or close to human dwellings4 ,the ,mountain ,bluebird will use the same type of house2 its location1 of course1 should correspond with the local haunts of the species4 ,the ,crested ,flycatcher ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,t ,there is a peculiar satisfaction in successfully providing a house for those species1 such as the ,crested ,flycatcher1 which do not ordinarily resort to artificial nesting sites4 ,it is something of a feather in the cap4 ,select a dilapidated orchard or an out-of-the-way woodside as a location for the ,flycatcher's house2 place the house and await the results with expectations not too sanguine4 ,should fortune favor you with an opportunity to watch these birds building1 remember to look for the famous dried snake skin almost invariably worked into the nest by this species1 not forgetting that the reason for its use is still one of the mysteries4 ,measurements for the ,flycatcher's house will be found in ,table ,i4 ,see ,plates ,plate ,,ii and ,plate ,,iii for styles of house recommended4 ,the ,flicker ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,i ,in general the woodpeckers choose to build their own houses4 ,but as the ,flicker is so unlike other woodpeckers in appearance and in certain of his well-known ways1 it is not surprising to learn that he will readily take possession of an artificial bird house4 ,naturally1 a woodpecker 7and the ,flicker is that7 is scarcely an exception to the rule that bird-house tenants prefer something along the general lines of a woodpecker's work4 ,a section of a hollow trunk or branch of the proper dimensions inside may easily be transformed into an ideal ,flicker house4 ,next best is the dugout type illustrated in ,plate ,,ii4 ,finally1 the semi-cylindrical or even rectangular house will do very well if the other specifications are about those given in ,table ,i4 ,the country or the suburbs1 not too near to a residence1 is the right environment for the ,flicker4 ,a ,flicker which took possession of a house ,i had placed for ,crested ,flycatchers spent days in audibly widening the rectangular chamber until a soft bed of chips was provided to receive the eggs4 ,the moral is--make the sides of thick1 soft wood1 and let even a woodpecker furnish his own bedding4 ,however1 one or two handfuls of coarse sawdust thrown into the ,flicker house will be quite welcome to this bird4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,,iv4 ,martin ,house ,the foundation1 each story1 and the roof are built as units of uniform lateral dimensions4 ,this permits adding more stories as the colony grows1 and allows for easy cleaning4 ,the central air shaft and elevated roof provide cooling by air circulation4 ,a molding attached to the under side of the roof section and to the floor of each other section holds the section in place1 aided by hooks and screw eyes as shown4 ,a1 ,roof and upper stories assembled4 ,b1 ,interior of one story4 ,the bottom is cut out of the central chamber for the air shaft4 ,c1 ,foundation or base4 ,its central cross-pieces are double thicknesses of -inch oak2 the rest of the frame is of pine inch thick4 ,four heavy angle irons 7as shown7 attach the base to the pole4 ,d1 ,interior of roof section exposed to show outlet of air shaft and the screen-covered gable-end air vents 7#a_/h- to -inch mesh screen74 ,e1 ,f1 ,g1 ,details of porches and railings4 ,the railings and their supporting posts are of standard hardwood dowel stock4 ,the ,purple ,martin ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,t ,this is the only desirable colony-forming bird-house tenant4 ,therefore the apartment type of house is a waste of material unless intended for ,purple ,martins and designed accordingly4 ,of the desirable bird-house clientele1 none is quite so sophisticated as the ,martins in the matter of a satisfactory location4 ,if it is only so much as a biscuit-toss from the ground1 the martin house may grace a bandstand1 a village railroad station1 or a busy village square4 ,the house itself may be one of those adapted doll houses1 complete with chimneys1 windows1 fancy doorways1 and whatnots1 ornate in fluted columns1 bizarre in lightning rods and weathercocks1 pretentious with elaborate porches and other gewgaws1 and gaudy with rainbow tints4 ,go as far as you like1 the ,martin will pace you4 ,however1 for those who would consider the bird's point of view to be of greater importance than their own1 appropriate suggestions are offered in ,table ,i and in ,plate ,,iv4 ,if painted white the house will be cooler and may be preferred by the birds4 ,the reader should be advised that ,martins are temperamental and will sometimes refuse to occupy a suitable house because of some dislike for its situation4 ,furthermore1 ,martins sometimes inexplicably abandon a locality where they have previously been abundant4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,v4 ,nesting ,house for ,ducks ,the ,wood ,duck and 7in proper places7 the ,hooded ,merganser and ,golden-eye are the duck species for which we may provide these houses4 ,the location should be secluded and near the water2 the exact site1 #aj to #bj feet up on a stub or tree4 ,build preferably of rough slab material4 ,see text4 ,the ,tree-nesting ,ducks ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,i ,in suitable locations artificial sites may be provided for any of the several wild ducks which ordinarily nest in hollow trees4 ,these ducks1 as breeding species1 are mostly northern1 the ,wood ,duck being almost the only one which regularly nests1 except at the higher elevations1 very much south of the northern ,united ,states border4 ,the ,hooded ,merganser may appropriate the house intended for the ,wood ,duck1 and vice versa4 ,illustration3 ,figure #c4 ,an easy-to-make box1 especially suitable for ducks4 ,front and top are slab wood1 the rest weathered boards4 ,a close-fitting cleat screwed to under side of top1 as shown1 keeps top in place with help of one easily removable #b-;inch screw4 ,see ,table ,i1 page #af1 for dimensions4 ,the location is of first importance4 ,this should be a secluded wooded stream or body of water4 ,the stump or tree which is to form the support for the house1 and also the entrance to the house itself1 should be in plain sight from the water4 ,it may be a hundred feet from the nearest shore1 but the nearer the shore the better4 ,a lone trunk1 or one of several on the edge of a wood1 will do4 ,avoid placing the house too near the ground4 ,further specifications are given in ,table ,i and ,plate ,v4 ,hawks and ,owls ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,w ,we have alluded to undesirable tenants1 meaning usually1 or in particular1 the ,english ,sparrow and ,european ,starling4 ,there is also another class of possible bird-house occupants to be dealt with--the owls and the ,sparrow ,hawk4 ,the owls and the hawks are usually considered taboo on account of their fondness for the smaller birds which most persons wish to encourage4 ,one does not ordinarily keep cats and canaries in the same restricted and common area and expect pleasing results4 ,yet1 it may be quite another thing if an estate is large enough to provide sufficient wild cover4 ,owls and hawks are as interesting as other birds1 and a wood1 suitable in size and character1 which lacks the quota of owls or hawks natural to it will always be lacking in one of its most proper assets and characteristics4 ,to the true nature lover a great wild forest from which owls are excluded might seem1 at best1 an arboretum where there might as well be a name tag on each tree-trunk4 ,an occasional nesting site for owls in a wood of many acres1 an appropriate box or two for ,sparrow ,hawks in a waste tract or along a few hundred yards of woodside will invite us to visit these places more often and will provide a new zest to the visits4 ,at the same time1 we are but following nature's way of balancing the wildlife4 ,nor will the smaller birds be seriously affected2 there may be a tendency for many of them to move in a little closer toward our dwellings for increased safety4 ,a house for small owls and the ,sparrow ,hawk should follow the lines of the house illustrated in ,plate ,v1 size of entrance and other dimensions being given in ,table ,i4 ,the ,common ,house ,finch ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,t ,the several western and extreme southwestern forms of the native ,house ,finch may1 for our present purposes1 be grouped with birds like the ,robin and ,phoebe which find such a number and variety of chance but suitable nesting sites that to provide still others may seem superfluous effort4 ,and yet1 to see the bright red of the ,common ,house ,finch and to hear his cheery song1 say1 in the heart of a city like ,denver where one looks only for ,english ,sparrows1 is to be tempted to offer this citizen a more desirable property than the water-spout or other chance nook or cranny in which he may otherwise elect to build4 ,the most successful is the open or semi-open type of nesting box1 as shown in ,plate ,,vi1 ,nos4 #a and #b4 ,robin and ,phoebe ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,t ,these birds are not classed as bird-house tenants4 ,when they nest in a building1 it is nearly always a deserted human dwelling or some other structure made originally for man's own use4 ,in other words1 the only sort of bird house at all likely to attract ,robin or ,phoebe would be one of cavern-like proportions in keeping with one type of natural site which both species favor1 especially the ,phoebe4 ,the architecture of most human dwellings is such that either ,robin or ,phoebe would find nesting-sites1 as they often do1 over windows1 under porches1 or about eaves4 ,but birds are not very considerate of the human liking for cleanliness1 and their nests therefore are often placed where we least desire them4 ,to lessen that chance and to furnish nesting-sites when they do not otherwise occur on a given dwelling or outbuilding1 the following suggestions for nesting shelves are offered4 ,the idea of nesting shelves is not a new one1 and experience shows that an effective nesting shelf may be of almost any description4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,,vi4 ,for the ,house ,finch1 ,robin1 and ,phoebe #a and #b1 ,nest box for ,house ,finch4 ,the front is left entirely open1 except for a cleat to hold the nest in place4 ,drainage holes may be bored in the bottom of the cleat1 or the cleat may be raised a quarter of an inch above the floor level4 #c1 ,nesting shelves for ,robin and ,phoebe4 ,see text for directions4 ,the raised rim shown here is not always essential1 but it may aid the birds to get a start1 since high winds are inclined to blow away the first straws from exposed sites4 ,the accompanying illustrations will fully explain themselves4 ,however1 it is well to emphasize here that the simplest possible shelf1 if only a mere cleat1 is all that is really required--#e to #f inches wide for the ,robin1 #c to #d inches wide for the ,phoebe2 any length of #h inches or over for either bird4 ,the ,robin often nests more than #be feet up1 the ,phoebe seldom so high4 ,place the ,phoebe's shelf #h to #bj feet up1 the ,robin's #h to #cj feet4 ,should the locality be in the country1 one must chance a ,phoebe claiming a shelf intended for ,robins2 either species should prove desirable as a tenant4 ,certainly cultivators of cherries1 currants1 and other small fruits may well console themselves should ,phoebes become their uninvited guests6 ,the ,phoebe is a true flycatcher and has none of the ,robin's special fondness for garden fruits4 ,illustration3 ,figure #d4 ,a roofed nesting-shelf for ,robins and ,phoebes4 ,length may be #h1 or any multiple of #h1 inches4 ,several - or #c_/h-;inch holes may be bored through the floor for drainage1 instead of in the rim as shown here4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,,vii4 ,bird ,baths #a1 ,natural boulder bath2 #b1 natural flat stone bath2 #c1 cement bath on a stone foundation2 #d1 a ground-pool bath of cement with a border of small boulders4 ,bird ,baths ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,b ,birds are inveterate bathers4 ,bathing is the daily habit of ,robins1 ,catbirds1 goldfinches1 ,song ,sparrows1 and most other small species1 whenever facilities are available4 ,artificial baths are most important where other bathing places are distant or inadequate4 ,in times of drought1 birds will resort so eagerly to baths as to form an almost continuous daily procession4 ,the bird bath lends itself to endless variations in size1 shape1 style1 material1 and cost4 ,often one may find a large boulder which1 at the expense of moving to the desired spot1 will prove a ready-made bath if it has a shallowly concave side4 ,or such a water basin may be chipped out of a rock by a stone mason4 ,smaller stones1 flattened and more or less scooped1 are common along many streams4 ,one of these stone slabs1 mounted on a pile of supporting stones1 makes an excellent bath4 ,failing that or as a matter of taste1 a massive shallow basin may be cast in cement to take the place of the natural slab4 ,a pool may be provided by lining with cement and surrounding with stones a prepared spot in lawn or garden4 ,see illustrations4 ,if desired1 running water may be piped to any style of bath4 ,whatever type the bath may be1 the following rules strictly apply4 #a4 ,depth of water should be graduated from nothing at the edge of bath or pool to not more than #b inches at its deepest2 except that in the case of the larger ground pools it may be graduated up to #e inches4 #b4 ,the bath must be swept or sponged out daily or as often as it becomes much befouled4 #c4 ,inside of bath should be rough to allow the birds a sure foothold4 #d4 ,if the bath is on or near the ground1 no shrubbery or other possible concealment for cats should be within #be feet of it4 ,it is well also to have a branchy tree within a few yards of the bath or pool1 so that the bathers when alarmed1 may easily reach a place of safety1 for their wet plumage will prove a handicap in longer flights4 ,illustration3 ,plate ,,viii4 ,types of ,feeding ,stations ,trays may be partitioned for different foods4 ,suet is sometimes tied to the supporting post4 ,the swinging station1 shown at the right1 always faces away from the wind1 but must be carefully balanced at the point of pivoting4 ,a--,,wooden ,,peg1 ,,holding ,,food ,,tray ,,pivot 7,,section ,,of ,,water-,,pipe7 ,b--,,food ,,tray ,c--,,cleat1 ,,supporting ,,food ,,tray ,d--,,round ,,perch 7,,one ,,at ,,each ,,end71 ,,serving ,,to ,,hold ,,roof ,,boards ,,apart ,e--,,round ,,post ,food ,stations ,illustration3 ,illustrated capital ,f ,food is the chief problem of winter birds4 ,cold alone is scarcely a menace1 while snow and sleet are chiefly harmful only when they cover up the food4 ,given proper food1 the only real requirement for a feeding station from the birds' point of view is that it shall keep the food available1 as by providing a roof to shed snow and ice4 ,among the wide variety of birds which frequently patronize food stations1 various members of the sparrow and finch family1 which includes the grosbeaks1 juncos1 and crossbills1 vie with nuthatches1 chickadees1 woodpeckers1 and blue jays as the most dependable boarders4 ,for winter birds in the northern states1 it is well to have the station in place and stocked with food as early as the first of ,november4 ,these birds are then beginning to establish hunting grounds and routes1 from which they will not stray all winter4 ,earlier in the fall1 as again in spring1 ground feeding is the better method4 ,in this1 scatter the food 7millet1 hemp seed1 and so on7 in the back yard1 along the fence line or at the edge of shrubbery or thicket4 ,juncos1 ,towhees1 ,song1 ,fox1 and ,tree ,sparrows1 and many others will benefit4 ,eagerly devoured by the waxwings are dried currants and dried raisins4 ,nearly all birds are fond of suet4 ,tie sizable chunks of suet to trees and to posts of food stations2 this appeals especially to woodpeckers1 nuthatches1 and chickadees4 ,other standard foods are millet1 hemp seed1 sunflower seed1 cracked corn1 and bread crumbs4 ,in addition1 chaff and oats may be scattered on the ground for quail1 grouse1 pheasants1 ,horned ,larks1 ,snow ,buntings1 longspurs1 and others in localities wild enough for these birds4 ,such feeding is particularly desirable when the snow is covered by an icy crust4 ,the food may be scattered under brush shelters1 made of branchy tree limbs loosely and irregularly stacked and roughly thatched with pine1 fir1 spruce1 or other conifer to keep out excess snow4 ,the care of a food station consists mostly in keeping up a supply of the proper foods and cleaning out the food trays as often as the condition suggests4 ,a small separate tray of coarse sand will provide the grit many birds require4 ,a hopper arrangement for feeding grains aids in keeping the food supply clean and it helps prevent the scattering of seeds4 ,illustration3 ,figure #e4 ,cross-section of a drinking and bathing station for winter use4 ,a flower pot of #h-;inch diameter at the top is recommended4 ,if a much larger pot is to be used1 a more powerful light bulb may be required to keep the water free of ice in sub-zero weather4 ,if the water is found to be overheated1 its temperature may be reduced by placing wedges between the rims of the flower pot and dish or between the rims of flower pot and box4 ,our publications include many useful manuals concerning birds and other wildlife4 ,a descriptive list will be mailed upon request4 ,cranbrook ,institute of ,science ,,bloomfield ,,hills1 ,,michigan ,illustration3 ,wood ,ducks ,transcriber's ,notes --,retained publication information from the printed edition3 this e,book is public-domain in the country of publication4 --,corrected a few palpable typos4 --,included a transcription of the text within some images4 --,in the text versions only1 text in italics is delimited by underscores4