Evening star., 1938-02-21
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

rtcious suckers that ever came to this
city. They will swoop down on the feed
shelf and drive every other bird away
except the cardinal. The other morn
ing cardinal sat on the edge OF my
shelf and there were six starlingS trying
to light. They would flutter up to the
edge Of the shelf, but when the cardinal
moved toward them they we're of again.
Also, have just one mocking bird; ap-
parenrly a holdover during the winter,
who can take care of himself very well.
Altogether I could get along very nicely
without the starlings.
Sixty days from now, our wrens will
be due. You can generally count on
them arriving about April Is. II the
weather is mild they may come a few
days before that, but If the weather is
chilly they may not arrive before the
18th or 20th-you can set your pegs for
them about April IS.
II have been living in Wesley Heights
for A years and there never has been
summer have not had several pairs Of
them nesting around my house. They
are delightful little friends; their only
trouble is that they do not stay long
enough, because they generally get away
by the middle of August.
Il have been feeding the birds for q
number Of winters and use only shelf
such as have described without any
cover. I keep it painted dark green
so the birds can readily see the food
when placed upon it. When there is a
snow I can easily reach out Of the win
dow and brush the snow off so that the
shelf is always available for them. With
kindest regard
Sincerely,
wv. H. H."
ARLINGTON. VA.
''Dear Sir: We always read what you
have to say about birds with great in
terest. for we, too, feed the birds and
like to have them about.
Last Friday during the snow blue
bird few to the top of the crabapple
tree and perched there for fully Is
minutes.
He seemed very tired, for he scarcely
moved. In spite of the fact that many
birds were feeding on the ground below,
he did not come down, and finally flew
off.
This is the first bluebird have seen
this winter. Last summer a pair had
their nest in a box in my neighbors
garden, but did all their drinking and
bathing in our bird bath.
Last Friday I also saw three white
throated sparrows at our feeding ground.
I'VE have been fortunate in having a
large variety of birds for our guests this
winter. One day we counted cardinals,
juncos, bluejays, brown creepers, tit
mouse, chickadee. nuthatch, towhee,
kinglet, downy woodpecker and. of
course, sparrows and starlings These
last go after the suet I tie in the trees
like flock of vultures.
Very truly yours,
"St. j. W."
Speaking of vultures, reminds the
writer of wonderful sight he saw the
other afternoon
Six vultures perched in a row atop the
battlemented tower of the Kennedy
Warren Apartment.
These great black birds on the white
tower made an unforgettable sight.
No doubt they had just flown over
from the National Geological Park, above
which they may often be seen floating in
those great easy glides for which they
are famous
Bad Understandings, sparrows, vul-
lures?
Are there any bad birds, really, in a
biological sense? We believe not Each
has its place. in great orchestral music
OF living things the symphony of crea-
ton as We are privileged to know it.