Evening star., 1936-04-16

enthusiast toward the English SPARROW
Shall he tolerate it, or "liquidate" it?
We have received a letter which puts
one side of the question very well, and
will say at once that we agree with it,
personally.
The letter follows:
Dear Sir: I have been a fan for
your column since the days Of Jack
Spratt, the cat. Recently your helpful
articles about birds have given me great
pleasure.
Many times I have thought would
write to you, but hesitated to break in
upon the numerous worthwhile letters
you were receiving.
"Now, however, feel impelled to make
a request of you to the effect that some
food be placed or thrown out for the
sparrows and pigeons that have in
creased very greatly since feeding has
been lessened or stopped altogether by
some who provided food rgularly during
the snow.
II realize that sparrows and pigeons
constitute a nuisance to many persons,
but hunger is as cruel to them as to the
other more favored varieties, and some
time as I watch them fitting around in
such great numbers I think of what
Abraham Lincoln said about the common
people-God must have loved them,
since He made so many Of them.
Just a line or two, to remind that the
birds of which write look for bread
crumbs all the year. Sincerely,
IN. L. s."
And here's a bird friend who knows
what to do with those odds and ends
of yarn left over from the ladies knitting
and crocheting
Dear Sir: Speaking Of feeding the
birds, as we were a short time ago.
gentleman who lives in one OF WASH
ington's larger apartment houses last
Winter erected an 13-inch post, on which
he placed square board at the edge
Of the porch, and under some large
bushes.
He took butter tub top, placed a
screw-eye in center, and with long
pole with a hook on end he lowered the
top well filled with grain each morning
onto this table.
THE result was a collection Of salts
fed jays, cardinals, few pigeons and
many small birds. In bad weather I
have seen him refill this table many
times each day.
when the birds no longer needed this
attention I have seen him place raveled
short pieces of white twine and good
sized 'wudgeS' of cotton on this serving
tray which were carried away by the
birds for nest construction.
Mother jay, flying away to an adjoin-
ing tree with one of these 'wudges' Of
cotton, was quite a sight, and no doubt,
owing to this gentlemans thoughtful
ness, many mother bird will gladly give
a song of appreciation. Very truly,
"R. C. B."
Most Of the small birds" mentioned
above were English sparrows.
1t seems as if every endeavor must
have its bone of contention.
In bird feeding it is this sparrow.
Some persons interested in this fine
recreation go to the trouble of securing
traps and catching all the English SPAR
rows. which they dispose" of in the
best style Of certain dictators.
We purchased a book recently in
which genuine hatred of this sparrow
was manifest many times
Our reaction was: well, you cannot
be the great nature lover you think your
self, mister. if you will not accept the
English sparrow"
AS distinguished bird lover said. in
letter printed here last Winter: II do
not feel that you can blame any bird
for coming when you put out a free
lunch table"
1t is true.
The English sparrow is as much
bird as any. Those who feed the birds
must take what comes, within reason.