CIHM Microfiche Series (Monographs) ICIMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Instituta for Historical Microraproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquaa Tadinical and WbHofrapMc No«M / NotM tMhniquM at biMiofra^i signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbols ▼ signifie "FIN". Mops, plataa. charts, 4tc.. may be filmed at different reduction retios. Those too large to be entirely included in one expoeura ara filmed beginning in the upper left hend corner, left to right end top to bottom, as many frames ss required. The following diegrems illustrsts the method: Les csrtes. plenches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent itre filmto * des taux da reduction diffirsnts. Lorsque le document est trop grend pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichi, il est fllmi S psrtir de I'sngle supirieur gauche, de geuche A droite. et de haut en bes. sn prenent le nombre d'imeges n^cesseire. Les diegremmes suivsnts illustrent le mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 .-' "JIWJ pp f K t V} 7 Canadian Society for the Protection of Birds INCOKPOKATKD UNDER THE ONTARIO COMPANIES ACT TORONTO. JANUARY M. IMI Fig. 2, Nesting Bc.^ (Fig. 1) in place. HOW TO ATTRACT THE BIRDS BY FRANK F. PAYNE Secretary of the Dominion Meteorological Service TORONTO : Printed and Publiehed by A. T. '.VILGRESS, Printer to the KingV Moat Excellent Majeaty 1917 "^ HOW TO ATTRACT THE BIRDS By PRANK P. PAYNE Sacratuy of th« Dominion Mattorotogical Setvic* After much discussion, caroful observation, and tabulation in whicli the number of noxious inst'cts destroyed each day by birds, and found in tlieir crops and stomachs has actually been counted, the public has come to the realization of the fact that not only do the birds add enormously to the vvcaltli of a nation, but Uiat man could not live upon this earth without them. In the more eidightened countries laws have been passed for their protection, and it is the duty of the public not only to do what they can to further this object, but to endeavour to attract the birds. In Canada, owing to the clearing of the forests over largo areas, the birds are left without nesting iioles, always found in decayed trees, consequently the most useful insectivorous birds are now found chiefly in or near such forests as remain. In order to induce them to return to the open country, it is absolutely necessary to provide artificial nesting holes or boxes, and it has been found that many of these birds will readily take to nesting boxes. It is of course, the duty .,f the state to provide boxes, and doubtless before long it will be considered as much a part of the work of agricultural departments, as instructing the farmer regarding the value of draining or the best grain to grow. In the vicinity of our cities and towns where quantities of fruit and vegetables are grown, and insectivorous birds are so much needed, the conditions for nesting holes are even worse, as all dead trees are cut down. In addition to the economic value of birds is the great pleasure they add to the life of mankind, and if we would keep them alwut us this can be clone by a small expenditure in nesting boxes, for it has been found over and over again that the birds do not despise even the humblest cottage in the centre of a large city if so provided. In order to further attract the birds to our parks and fjardens, clean water for bathing and drinking should be provided, and this may be done with shallow trays sunk in the ground and sloping so that the water is quite shallow at the upper end. Seed trays will help enormously, and quite open hanginof baskets fitted with bath, drinking and seed trays are sometimes p: vided. Suet, meat, fat and sunflower seeds will attract many birds and induce them to stay. As the destruction by cats is very great, lovers of birds should discourage the keeping of cats as pets, and all stray cats should be destroyed. Material for nests such as wool and soft clay scattered about will also help to attract the birds. There are so called bird houses of many shapes and sizes, but perhaps the most common and least fitting to its surroundings is that fashioned like a human dwell- ing on the top of a pole. These, of course, will attract the birds if nothing better is provided, but they are expensive, and it is our object to suggest, if possible, the most natural and least expensive boxes which also may be made by an amateur carpenter. These «>houKl be made to last so that tiie so urn birds may return to them each Spring. The floor should give plenty of nioni for the nest, joints should be tight in order to prevent draughts or the entrance of rain, entrance holes should be countersunk or slope upwards so that wet may not enter; there should be a small hole through the floor of the house to drain off any water which may enter, entrance holes should be quite small so that ns far ns possible sparrows may be preTented from taking possession. Painted box. > are not advised. i>ut if paint is used it should be of a dull colour. The more rustic looking tiie \m\ the more it will attract the birds. As birds return to the same hole in a tree year after year, from which they will remove portions of the nest, and as in Canada the cold of winter destroys most insect pests found in nests, cleaning is not so ncci'ssary as elsewhere. Clean boxes, however, will doubtless Ix preferred, and sides or tops may be hinged or made mov- able so that this may Iw done. If the l)ox tips forward a little this will help to keep out rain, and it should never loan backward. The roof should slant and should over- hang enough to keep rain clear, nnd also kecj) the sun from shining on the young. As the roof is liable to w urp it i* a good plan to have one or more err ^ pieces of wood strongly nailed to prevent this. If nesting lioxes are placed on pc instead of on trees a metal guard can bo nttachod lower down to prevent cats from climbing 1 Fl«. 1. I Pio. 3. to the nett* at ohown in Fig. 11. lerchea attached to netting boxen are quite an- neceasary, and if placed near the entrance hole will encourage gparrov The moat natural and durable boxei uwd almost entirely in Europe and largely in the United States, are made of a section of a branch or tree. These are about six inches in diameter and from one to two feet in length, with the bark on as shown in the cut Fig. 1 and 8. The«e pieces of timber »^ hollowed out by machinery I , .1... 3 T"^^^ I* Oi Ell^ — I Fig. 4. with an expanding cutter, but they can be made by splitting a straight grain' , block and gouging out the hollow in both halves and then joining them with screws. The size of the box and the height of the entrance hole abov the floor will depend upon the birds for which the box is intended m shown in the table below. Flicker?, Wood- peckers, Bluebirds, Chicadees, and sevei"! other birds prefer these boxes to any other, and as they can usually be purchased for fifty cents or less, they are imch in favour. 1 rig. 6. Of compartment nesting boxes such as would be occupied by the purple martin we would recomff d one in the form of an inverted cone resting in a rough frame- work erected p- s pole as shown in Fig. 3. Smaller boxes for Bluebirds, ^''rens, etc., can be made cheaply in all shapes and sizes, either of bark or waste slabs covered with bark. A very effective box is made of half or the wh o circle of bark taken from a limb or trunl' of a tr-9 and roofed 6 with bark or other materiti a* shown in Fig. 10. Mr. E. TI. Forbuiih in hi* circular iMucd by the State Board of Agriculture for MaMwhuiiettii, from which we have alio taken mntt of our illu«trationi, makes the following suggeationii for making of these boxes. " An incision is made on tlie oitle intended for the l«ck of the Imx. through Imth outer and inner bark, from the top to the bottom of each section: then, on the opposite side, some two or three inches from the top, there is bored through •.y;j '3 Wksx tor ■Gr^rall^ Ml Fig. «. Fl|. 7. the liark, with hii auger or cxtcni«iun bit, a hole of the xize dcNired for the entrance. I f Huch tools are nut at hand the aperture may be cut with gouge, a chisel or even a knife. Next, a wcdgc-t • ^ cat proof, and the latter beit ( preferred by Owls. For Vobins, Swailowi and I'hocbet, a box or ithclf should be pruviilnl, having ti' ' iron' .-nd and top or all sided open aa ihown in Fig. 7, where two htdea are given x'hese should be erected under a verandah or cave. A nesting box can be made with < tomato can by fitting iu the onrn end a round piece of wood with a h<)ic in it. .' uh boxps are very cheap, but they will not be accepted where there art' other ncntting holes to Im foiiml. Theri' are many nexting boxes exposed for sale, and doubtless many will be accepted by the birds, but in order to have any degree of success they must be made correctly in accordance with long experience, and the Canadian Society for the Protection of Birds, Toronto, will \ie pleased to offer suggestions to either those who propose to purchr.sc or construct boxes themselves. The table of nesting Im>x dimensions l)elow was issued by the Department of Agriculture at VVa '•i«»ton, and it rec mmended for boxes used in Canada. D]^fEN8IG . OP NESTING BOXES Floor r.Titjr Blaebird Rabin Chickadee WbitebrsMted Nathatch .... House Wren Bam Swallow Martin Bona Sparrow Phcebe Crested Fljcatcber Ked-headed Woodpecker .... Screech Owl Bam Owl Flicker Hairy Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Inebes 6x6 X x X X X X X X X X 10x18 7 X r 6x6 4x4 8 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 Depth of Cavity Inehes 8 8 8 to 10 8 to 10 6 to S 6 6 « 6 8 to 10 12 to 16 12 to 16 15 to 18 16 to 18 12 to 16 8 to 10 Entnnee IHameter above of Floor Eatranoe Inehes 6 • 8 8 1 to 6 8 12 12 4 16 12 8 Inehes '.'1 • 2 2 8 6 Hsicht above Ground Fset 6 to 10 to 16 to 16 to 20 to It to 12 to 20 to 8 to 12 to 20 20 80 M 18 to 20 to 20 to 20 6 6 12 6 8 16 1 8 8 12 10 1? (> 12 6 * One or more sides open. ' All sides open. The Becretary, Canamait BociKrr fob thx Pbotection or Bnm. (MacLean Building) 149 University Avenue, Toronto, Can.