Methods of Conducting a Bird House Contest.
St. Johnsbury, Vermont, is very fortunate in having a fine Museum of Natural Science with a corps of very efficient workers on its staff.
Every year the directors of the Museum donate a substantial amount of prize money as rewards for the best houses constructed for birds by pupils of the grammar school.
The local Commercial Club, as well as many of the merchants also, add generously to the fund, so that the boys and girls, besides having an incentive for helping their bird friends from an economic standpoint, also have a chance to profit financially.
Previous to starting work the Museum instructors give interesting lectures on the necessity of providing all possible assistance for the birds, and by mounted specimens show the various birds that readily accept the artificial houses. They also explain the entrance sizes required by the different species, and go into detail concerning ventilation, drainage, coloring and placing of the houses.
Fig. 6. A Group of Prize Winners.
Later on the children are taken on bird walks, so as to study first hand the characteristics, habitat, and difference in coloring of the male and female of the various native birds.
Original designs are encouraged, and with discussions and good advice the work is started. A stated amount of time is allowed for completing the houses, and the material is paid for by each pupil.
On the appointed day the houses are numbered and grouped and are ready for the judging.
Three judges are appointed from among people who are proficient to judge such an exhibit, usually one of the museum instructors, to judge the technical side, a carpenter or mechanic, to judge the workmanship, and one who is interested in art to take care of the general design and appearance.
Fig. 7. Results of the First Contest in St. Johnsbury.
The score card is as follows:
| Fitness to purpose | 50% |
| Skill in Workmanship | 30% |
| Appearance, design, color | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Each judge marks individually on the tally and the box whose score is highest in the estimation of all, receives first and so on through all the prizes.
Fig. 8. Some Houses Made in 1916.
Sometimes the pupils judge the display beforehand and compare their results with those of the selected judges, and it has proven generally that boys and girls will use very excellent judgment in selecting the winners.
Fig. 9. A Few Houses Made in 1917.
Fig. 10. A Winner.
The prizes are usually tools, good books, and thrift stamps, and this annual event is looked forward to with keen anticipation by the youthful designers.
Figs. [4] and [5] show exhibits at the local museum for the past two years.
Fig. [6] shows a group of prize winners.
Figs. [7], [8] and [9] show collections of houses made during the past four years.
Fig. [10] shows one prize winner with his house hollowed from a piece of birch limb.