Evening star., 1933-11-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

that he has built up ideal conditions for
his visitors and that comparable results
cannot be expected ofihand. Few per-
sons expect to go to such lengths. any
how because few persons, even among
bird lovers, love them as well as he.
Every one, however, can take thought
for the birds at this time of year.
/ We know a small boy who saved up
a few pennies and. when asked by his
mother what he was going to do with
them. replied, ITO buy loaf Of bread
for the birds"
He didn't have. to do that, but his
heart was in the right place.
~ * y
Beef suet probably Is the best all
around food for wild birds at this time
Of year.
Care should be taken in feeding that
1t is placed upon an elevated stand.
preferably upon a tall pole so narrow
that cats cannot climb up.
Our authors idea Of chopping some
Of 1t coarse and some OF 1t fine and OF
going over the pan at frequent inter-
walls to keep the meal strictly up-to-date
and sanitary Is mighty good one.
A great many persons have the idea
that one can be as dirty as one pleases
about the animals, that they are not
very clean, anyway, and that sanitation
is unknown in nature.
Precisely the opposite is true. The
clean elemental winds of the great out
doors, that mighty antiseptic, the sun
shine, and the oxygenating qualities OF
pure fresh air, these are sanitary ele-
ments which must deal with all dirt,
especially that caused by humanity, and
turn 1t to good use.
Yet every one knows how the sweet
est flowers grow out of the worst debris.
Before this occurs, however, a few
uneaten breadcrumbs can cause quite a
mess, In every sense OF the word, II 1t
happens that they are not eaten up by
birds
Feathered friends have right to
capricious appetites, upon occasion, as
well as the rest Of us.
Ofttimes a flock of starlings, suddenly
descended, will scare all the milder birds
away. The visits of these stubby- tailed
fellows, as a matter of fact, has taken a
great deal of the pleasure out Of bird
feeding for us ordinary amateurs at It.
They elbow their way into every least.
push the juncos. and other. creatures
away and proceed to appropriate every
tAAAAA6 SAA1s sA0sh IA SaAAS NeAAA AAeNA2-
die,
But we like the starlings, too, despite
their faults, especially since every one
seems to have gotten down upon them
They do not worry about cats or Gov
eminent officials, but wing their way in
saucy defiance of conventions. They
know whose children they are; they
know they have a right here as well
as any.
II one begins to feed the birds, then,
he should see to 1t that what Is put out
Is eaten. Suet out in rain and wind
becomes very much soiled and a warm
sun does 1t no good.
Too much seed left around Is not tidy;
crumbs. unless eaten, are even worse.
Some birds are finicky and will not eat
old. stale stuff. Personal inspection of
what Is left over should be made at dusk,
| If this is possible What is good may be
| left, but what Is spoiled should be taken
up and thrown away.
| Since the birds are worth feeding, they
are worth having the best. There is q
wide field for experiment here. in find
| ing out for ones self what they like.
While the foods given above are stand
ard. no doubt there are a great many
other things our Winter birds like and
will eat especially when they are not
| able to find anything else.