Evening star., 1936-02-27

after looking the situation over, he al
most devoured the large piece Of suet.
From then on he has usurped our
place. He won't allow a bird near any
OF the feeding stations: in fact, he won't
even allow them on the place. I am
indeed gratified that such an aristocrat
should favor us, but how about my other
little friends who have been more or less
dependent on their board at my domi-
cile? Thank you for listening. I am,
sincerely, G. M. D."
Park road.
Dear Sir: The attached, Gratitude
With Reserve was inspired by your COL
umn of recent date. Please offer my
apologies to The Star, but if am rushed
for time or have headache skip the
news events and the editorials and read
your column-so very human, so satisfy
ing to simple soul like yours very re-
spectfully, M. F. H."
GRATITUDE WITH RESERVE.
BY M. F. H.
Jack Squirrel said "It's mighty fine
That you have asked me here to dine.
The Winter has been hard and cold,
And nuts hid beneath the mold
To keep me till another Fall
I cannot find at ALL at all.
But something would like to know,
AS I rush here through all the snow
And climb up to your feeding board,
So kindly spread with generous hoard
OF grains and crumbs and other things
Best suited to the beasts with wings,
Who flap and flutter, chirp and peck,
And sometimes pick me on the neck
And try to chase me far away,
Although l say I've come to stay
"The thing that would like to know,
AS Scampering here and there I go:
When you some guests invite to dine,
Why think you not how tastes incline,
And have two tables--one with grain
For birds who from strong foods abstain;
But for us squirrels, who like our meat,
Have nuts-yes, nuts-for us to eat?"
Bird feeders add a great deal to the
pleasure of catering to the wants of the
wild birds. Most of them are simply
elaborated grain hoppers-that is, con-
tainer of some sort is cut inside by a
slanting board which causes the grains
to keep flowing out narrow opening
into trough. AS the birds eat-usually
from perch or rail-the food keeps
flowing out until all is gone.
The point about these feeders is that
they keep the grain and seed dry in all
sorts of weather, and this, in such a
Winter as we are experiencing. is a
mighty fine thing. No matter how SIM
pie or elaborate the feeding device, the
birds, and especially the squirrels, will
see to it that large quantities of grain
are spilled on the ground beneath them.
They all love to eat from the earth.
The best and kindest thing to do about
a mockingbird that drives all the other
birds away is to find out what kinds of
foods it prefers and then deliberately
leave these out of the daily handout, If
possible.
AS for the squirrels, no doubt the
rhymed suggestion above is the best.
The squirrels out our way come every
morning, about o'clock, and usurp the
feeders for at least an hour, during which
time the birds must peck as best they
can.
Fortunately, our squirrels usually leave
during the course of the morning and
thereafter are to be seen only spasmod-
ically at the feeding stations. Most of
these small problems which loom large
in bird feeding, can be solved by observa-
ton and common sense in equal parts,
with two parts of patience thrown in.