BIRD MONTH

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3893, 18 August 1941, Page 7

BIRD MONTH

HOW HELP CAN BE GIVEN FOOD SCARCE IN AUGUST Closely associated with Arbor Day and the planting of trees is Bird Moif)h, which has been set aside as the month in which naturelovers can show their appreciation of bird life by caring for birds at a time when food for them is at its scarcest. Contrary to the belief of many people, all birds do a tremendous amount of good for gardens and bush, no matter how destructive they may be at certain times of the year. Even the mischievous sparrow is the moth’s greatest enemy.

For the guidance of those who know little about the habits of birds but who appreciate them and wish to help them, a bird-lover has supplied many interesting hints. Scraps of Food At this time of the year food is the birds’ greatest need and a way in which everyone can give immediate help to the birds is to put out scraps of cooked food, either in some raised position or in the middle of a large, open space, where the menace from cats would be greatly reduced. Scraps, such as fat and meat, should be cut into small pieces, stale crusts of bread should be soaked in water and the hard shells which have been removed from cooked pumpkin should be left with the pulpy side up for the birds to pick at. The little sil-ver-eye is particularly fond of anything sweet, such as jam skimmings, and a pot' of fermented jam, which the average person would throw out, will feed dozens of these little birds. The natural food of all native birds is to be found in New Zealand native and introduced flowering shrubs, which produce nectar in the blooms and fleshy berries. Now is the time to plant shrubs and so provide for future generations of native birds. Shrubs most attractive to birds are kowhai, puriri, rama raina (bush myrtle), kawa kawa (pepper tree), karamu, taupapa, and single camellia, abutilion, tree lucerne and viburnum. They may be planted in odd corners Of the garden not suitable for flower beds, where they will remain undisturbed and the birds may become accustomed to them. In time even tuis and bellbirds will come into the garden which offers these attractions. Hanging Jars When nectar-yielding bowers are scarce, as at this time of the year, the birds may be provided for by' hanging small glass jars of manufactured nectar in their favourite trees. Sugar and Water, honey and water, or treacle and water are excellent substitutes, though it may be some time before the birds become accustomed to the strange object.

In providing a bath for birds the menace of cats should also be borne in mind and the bath should be placed, as the food, in the middle

of a lawn or raised from the ground. Any shallow vessel is suitable for a bath and the water should be kept fresh. Bigger birds like a bath to remove mud they are liable to get on their feathers while scratching for worms and it is believed all birds take a regular bath with vigorous splashing to remove tiny verminous insects from their feathers. In a town so 1 rich in gardens as Cambridge the care of bird life should be of great importance.