Evening star., 1936-01-09

other foods the birds that Winter here
can eat in q given time.
One Washingtonian who had no idea,
upon entering this pleasant field Of doing
good, Of the cost Of 1t, learned in a month
that he spent about $40 for seeds, to say
nothing Of what his self-feeding devices
cost him.
At this rate feeding the birds in his
garden for four months, or until Spring,
would cost him better than $50 at q
minimum.
Yet 1t is worth 1t, ne says, adding that
he has spent such sum before for things
that did not give him half the pleasure
and which did not do as much good to so
many creatures.
Since bird chat Is of interest to all
who love the birds, we append the fol-
lowing letter:
my object in writing is to speak Of
your article In today's Star about the
redbirds. I, too, had the privilege of
living In Chevy Chase for a number Of
years. -" I put up many bird sta
tions for feeding, and many nesting
boxes, which were all occupied each year.
There must have been something wrong
with the big martin house, as it was
never tenanted except by few starlings
and one year by pair Of flickers. So I
suppose the openings were too large for
martins.
But to return to our redbirds. Being
a native of Kentucky, they have always
been my favorites. There we rarely called
them cardinals-alwayS redbirds. think
James Lane Allen must have started the
cardinal vogue, although, of course,
they have always been known by that
name, too. But "A Kentucky Cardinal is
much more euphonic than "A Kentucky
Redbird!'
During the Winter would place a
table in front of each window on the
porch. On top of each table box, like
platform, with an inclosed railing about
inches high to keep the food and seeds
from blowing of on the floor. Even so,
the porch required several Sweepings a
day.
But such wonderful friends made of
the birds that came there-and nearly
all did come. 1t was almost like having
them In the room. The redbirds, titmice
and nuthatches were seemingly fearless.
People coming and going on the porch
did not disturb them at all. But what
really gave me courage to write this let
Ter Is WIldL you SAID COnlRnC ABOUT your
company of eight redbirds. Every Win
ter I had Just exactly eight. Close as
was to them, did not notice the varia-
tion in the red coloring of the males or,
at least, do not recollect it.
"One Of the strangest and sweetest
experiences I had out there was the
sight of a redbird on the tip of cedar
on the corner one extremely cold, moon
light night-a deep snow on the ground
and trees-he giving his CHEEKY Winter
whistle. 1t was almost unbelievable.
They say birds never die from extreme
cold-only from empty little craws I
always bought wire-meshed soap dishes
tkitchen) and, putting suet under them,
tackled them to the trees. In this way
they cannot carry it all of. May I tell
you how tremendously enjoy everything
you write-tropical fishes-books-peo-
ple-everything Living on the seventh
floor, as do here. I cannot attract the
outside birds, but have them inside my
apartment; also always fish. Thanking
you, If you have read thus far, and re-
member, no answer-the daily treat you
give me is enough. Most sincerely" etc.
Persons with large porches, even in
the heart of the city. might try this
plan of using them during Winter as bird
feeding stations. The postman won't
mind. What he is afraid of is dogs!