. American ornithology for the home and school . curiosity as to the contents ofthe bird boxes. The Chickadees made no attempt to use them, merelylooking one over now and then as if to see what new creature wouldpop its head out of the entrance. In the Fall of 1901 food for the birdswas put out as usual about the house windows. The window over thewood shed was provided with what we might call an observation box was made of old weather-beaten lumber and fastened to thewindow sill by a board support a foot long. A projecting piece ofboard protected the entrance from the driving rain. So
. American ornithology for the home and school . curiosity as to the contents ofthe bird boxes. The Chickadees made no attempt to use them, merelylooking one over now and then as if to see what new creature wouldpop its head out of the entrance. In the Fall of 1901 food for the birdswas put out as usual about the house windows. The window over thewood shed was provided with what we might call an observation box was made of old weather-beaten lumber and fastened to thewindow sill by a board support a foot long. A projecting piece ofboard protected the entrance from the driving rain. So far it appearedlike any ordinary bird box, but the side next the window had the edgerabbited for glass like a windowsash. A pane of glass was fitted intothis side and secured with glaziers points. The glass was coveredfrom view externally by a shingle which was fitted into the rabbitingover the glass, and hinged at the bottom, so that it could be openeddownward and laid flat on the supporting board. When this had been 352 AMERICAN MOTHER COMES. AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 353 done all that went on inside could be viewed from the window. Thisbox is similar to one I invented, when a boy, to watch the nesting habitsof Swallows and Bluebirds. The glass is necessary only to prevent theentrance of bird enemies or the premature egress of young birds whenthe box is open. The box was so located that the direct rays of thesun could not strike the young birds when the door was opened. Thephotographer might prefer to have the sunlight strike directly uponthem, but when the principal object is to watch and preserve them, thisis a danger that must be avoided. The picture of the young birds inthe nest shows how readily they may be observed or photographed inthis manner. As the weather became severe some of the Chickadees evinced con-siderable interest in this box, and toward Spring one or more of themprobably passed the night there. When Spring opened and the birdsbegan to pair and r
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1901
