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By EUGENE 3’ °ARTHY
Rappahannock News lo. ting Writer
According to Ms. uoycd president of the “Defenders of Wildlife,” a number of non-game species of birds, including loons, barn owls, wood storks, and bluebirds are “under pressure,” and because of loss of habitat and other threats are declining in numbers. My concern for the loons, for the barn owls, and the wood storks was immediately stirred. But as to the bluebirds I had some reservations.
I have tried to help bluebirds. They have been unresponsive to my efforts, spuming a variety of houses that I have offered for their comfort, convenience, and safety.
First I provided a standard bluebird house, built by ornithologist and wood worker, Thomas Gheoghan of Scrabble. The entrance hole was exactly the right size to let in bluebirds, but to keep out starlings and other intruders. The hole was placed the prescribed five inches above the floor of the house. The roof was hinged so as to make it easier to remove undesirable tenants such as house sparrows. The house was fixed on the side of a locust tree. It was eight feet from the ground and fastened to the side of the tree that opened on the edge of meadow. Anti-black snake protection was provided.
Although the house has been available for three years no bluebird has moved in.
I offered more sophisticated housing; two houses in fact, that were given to me by friends, miniature models of the White House, on the assumption that that House is attractive to birds of many kinds. I chose suitable location for the houses, one atop a fence post and the other in an apple tree.
The house in the apple tree remains unoccupied after two summers. I once saw a wren examine it critically and then leave. Not even a sparrow has deigned to move into it. The other house has drawn the attention of a flicker who set out to remodel it by enlarging the entrance hole.
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