Evening star., 1936-01-29

"Dear Sir: In common with many
Others 1 have been considerably inter-
ested in your disputations about BIRDS.
You don't know 1t, of course, but am
lifelong crank on the subject and really
find more enjoyment among those that
make my big hedge their refuge ana
abiding place than I did among those
with whom I was less happily aftllated
in the United States Senate.
II have catered to them in every way
for a great many years and particularly
out here, where the character OF The place
lends itself to the practice the way 1t
does. I have among my visitors almost
every variety and species OF bird that
frequents this region Summer or Win
ter, and get the greatest enjoyment out
of them.
"They sound the reveille for me every
morning and there are very few moments
during the day when none OF them Is
around / feed them at fixed places on
the ground and on my window she1,
which is at times so covered that they
are crowding each other into the air,
fluttering and claWing in their efforts
to get another firm footing.
"This morning on that shelf have
counted cardinals fmany), juncos, pur-
pie finches, chickadees, nuthatches, TIT
mice, white throatS tree sparroWs, star
lings damn 'em), hairy and doWny
woodpeckers, Carolina wren, mourning
doves, bluejayS-I am sure there have
been others.
ION the trees always have suet, on
which I find all the woodpeckers and
occasionally birds not given to meat
diets, one CT the most interesting beng
the tiny brown creeper, the midget OF
the entire Winter outfit.
Some I have that are not only unln-
yited, but unwelcome, as, for instance,
crows, starlings and English sparroWs,
but what is one to do when one runs
free lunch stand?
THE crows are the very first visitors
of the day. blowing the raucous bugle
until I get up and chase them away, but
| the starlings and the English sparroWS
| work overtime and are nulsances mere
as they are elsewhere. OF course. the
presence Of all these birds offers tempta-
| tions to predatory birds and to cats, but
7 despise and make short work OF the
! cats Christmas morning I captured
| beautiful barred owl, which took down
| and presented to the Zoo, where ne is
| now. unhurt but unrepentant.
"One great difficulty at this season is
| to provide water, but do the best can
| in that respect, thawing out one OF the
| several baths as frequently as Is practical
I think / can tell you today just when
| the first brown thrasher will put in its
appearance-April 7. He's been here
every year for the last five years. It's
| all very interesting-to me, at least-and
] like to think and, yes. to talk about the
subject generally. I am not writing this
| for publication, but only that you may
know that have been interested in your
bird gossip Sincerely yours,
H. S. N"
| This letter may interest some readers
more when they know it is from former
| Cabinet member, a man whose voice once
resounded high in the councils OF his
| party.
| Now he is living on his beautiful Mary
land estate, watching the birds and per-
mitting others to worry about politics.
| Many will think he has much the bet
| ter of It. as he seems to think himself.
Those who love the birds have hfe-
| time happiness.
There is no season of the year too hot
| or too cold for our feathered friends and
| for the interest of their human watchers.