Show CATERING TO THEIR NEEDS birds may be gathered about us in ill seasons ot of the year with ease case and ertain certainty ty merely by offering what they desire in ia winter they are often pushed for food and if we supply tills need they will report daily at the lunch counter and help to relieve the tedium of our indoor life in summer they care less for food provided by their human friends and other I 1 7 w V 1 b eird bird baths balha a pottery it or concrete means must be sought to attract them about the th houie home they appreciate fresh biresh water fur for bathing and dil drinking likIng A shallow pool of varying depth if only a toot foot across becomes on hot days a 11 center of attract attraction lop for all the birds in the vicinity and it may be made with nale little effort and material only a agull arno anifant of cement Is required or if that lie be lackan lacking a pan with tones stones in it set in the ground will be equi ally serviceable trees shrubs and vines bearing fruit relished by birds tire are great attractions in their season birds are desirable about premises not only on account of their beauty and song but because of their eco i orth according to the united states bureau of biological survey they are especially useful as insect de destroyers st during the breeding period when they have to work early and late to obtain sufficient food for theli nestlings nest lings and their movements at this time are more interesting than during an any y other season there Is therefore a double purpose in offering them special nesting facilities if mud Is available Siv swallows allows robins and phoebes phoebea will found and wall their nests with it it if we put out feathers bits bl ts of wool or twine a dozen different kinds of birds will make use of them if we furnish safe retreats in which they can rear their young comfortably most of them will be occupied in tact fact no attraction for summer birds Is more effectual than a series of houses suited to the needs and habits of the various kinds of house birds A few years are ago only four species were commonly regarded as house birds the house wren uie the bluebird the tree an the martin since the movement to protect dir din and make neighbors of them began however their natures and needs have become better understood and it Is now known that many other species will aall themselves of houses constructed for them by abor allx lr human friends the practice of erecting bird birdhouses houses in tills this country while now nation wide vilde Is not so common and aad uniformly distributed as it should be and more extended provisions of this nature cannot fall fail to ta result in a largely increased C eased number of house bouse birds |