Evening star., 1936-01-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

UuU tllCy UO IlUL lLhC ~ uluCI GAldt way
and the wind blows 1t away. Corn meal
can be had at 80 cents for 10 pounds.
MY bird feeder is only the top Of a
cheese box, hung from the caves of the
porch by three strings, but it serves the
purpose very we'll. There have been so
many starlings in it lately, it reminds
me of the pie that had four and twenty
blackbirds baked in it. 1t looks like this,
except there should be many more birds
Starlings are such funny creatures. I
often think Of what you called them,
clowns of the air With best wishes
from one bird friend to another. Very
truly-M. R. c."
X X *
Such letters are interesting, because
they are obviously the work of people
who know what they are talking about.
You do not catch such persons assert
ing that few crumbs will go long way
toward making birds happy in Winter.
A few crumbs won't go any way at all.
as any one knows who sincerely has at
tempted to feed the wild birds at this
time Of year.
Pounds and pounds of food are re-
quired, if one really feeds the birds, not
just plays at it.
The cost Of real feeding mounts up
amazingly. Those who have not had the
experience simply cannot conceive how
much food the birds will eat in month,
if they are given all they want and re-
Quire.
The cost of foods used, therefore, is
always of interest to those engaged in
this pleasant and helpful recreation. We
know of one family in this city which
innocently started out to use canary bird
food, at IS cents pound, until the men,
bers realized that the birds would "eat
them out of house and home"
Our correspondent offers several help
full suggestions The use of corn meal
is new one and merits experimental
ton by those bird friends who have not
tried it.
In the letters offered above two sug-
gestions are made as to homemade
feeders. The one is box frame. the
sides and top covered with coarse chicken
wire, SO that sparroWs and other small
birds can enter, but starlings and pigeons
are kept out.
The other feeder, the cheese box lid,
would be very practical and ought to
look very nice and be appreciated by the
birds, for the slightly elevated rim of the
lid, which, of course, is up, offers the
birds exactly the sort of perch they like
best.
We are glad to note that one corre-
spondent voices word of liking and
praise for the sparrows, presumably the
English variety.
Also instances yellow cat which does
not bother the feeding birds. The bird
toll taken by cats is grossly exaggerated
by persons who do not like cats. Those
who like cats as we'll as birds know
better. The cat is born hunter, SO
constituted by God Almighty but often
shows an amazing apathy when it comes
to birds, especially in Winter. so that no
one need fear them in bird feeding.
There are many far worse enemies of
birds.
The English sparrow is welcome to our
feeders, as no doubt to all feeders There
has grown up habit of criticizing these
little fellows: actually they are inter-
esting and picturesque birds. cheerful
and persistent, qualities which man pro-
fesses to admire in humanity, so why not
in the birds?
Even in suburban sections, where all
types of wild birds Winter, the sparrows
make up large part of the bird popu-
lation and as far as we can see very
desirable part. too.
1t is interesting to note that ornithol-
ogists rate the sparrow family at the
very top of the bird tree. Three or four
varieties of sparrows come regularly to
most suburban gardens hereabouts at
this time of year. English sparrows
predominant, and, since they are true
members of the family, they are well
come.