Evening star., 1944-05-01
This and That
By Charles E. TrdcetDell.
THE MARLBOROUGH,

THE MARLBOROUGH.
Dear Sir:
Il was much interested last week
watching pair of chickadees over in
the Baltimore suburbs investigating a
birdhouse.
They occasionally went inside, but
their chief interest was in hanging on
the opening. Just as soon as one left,
the other took over.
They did this for two days, and
brought no nest-building material. We
concluded that they were about to sign
a lease, however. They were very tame
and sang all the time.
Last year I wrote you about my tame
sparrows. Their number has increased,
and now feel like Snow White in the
film, as they flutter directly overhead
and escort me to the feeding place.
Your charming bird studies in The
Star are always great pleasure.
Very sincerely, e. E. W."
x X
Chickadees like best a house with the
bark on.
1t is a good plan to include couple
OF chickadee boxes in any garden where
bird feeding is carried on.
If the birds can be induced to accept
the boxes as shelters, during cold
weather, they may remain to nest in
them.
Such boxes, therefore, should be put
up in the fall, or early winter, If there
are chickadees around.
This box requires an entrance hole of
1B inches in diameter.
The floor of the box should be 4 by 4
inches; the depth of the box, to 10
inches; the hole should be to 8 inches
above the floor, and the box placed
from to Is feet above the ground.
No doubt location on or in a tree is
best.
In nature the black-capped chckadee
nests in old deserted woodpscker holes.
natural cavities, either in trees or in
stumps. 1t is easy to see why the bird
likes house with a rustic finish. An
ordinary wren house will do, If the en-
trance is widened just a little.
The bird fills the nesting site with
grass, leaves, and moss. and then lines
it carefully with what hair it can find.
fur and feathers.
1t is beautifully made nest, and in
1t are laid from to eggs, which are
white, spotted with chestnut and lilac.
People often confuse the chickadee
and the tufted titmouse. The only real
resemblance is in size. The chickadee
Is the little one that wears a black
cap. The titmouse has a crest and
shows some orange beneath his wings
They are great friends, chickadees
and titmice. With their pal, the white
breasted nuthatch, they are seen every
winter at almost every suburban feeding
station.
They like to sample the food when
other birds are not around, flying in
swiftly, taking a seed, and flying away
with it.
This is a tavorite species with all per-
sons who love the birds, and also with
thousands who never pay much at
tention to them. The song about the
cheerful chickadee" in the Disney pro-
duction of Snow White" was sound
ornithology, and at the same time it
induced many persons to speak its name
with affection who otherwise would
never have done So
1t is impossible to watch a chickadee
for as little as a minute without feeling
inc rlghtness of its designation as
cheerful"
~ AieS III Will 8uSIo, ana ltS very air
is one to bring happiness. To be able
to see chickadee at close range is one
OF the best reasons for a window sill
feeding station. Certainly every home
in which there is an invalid should have
such a feeding place chickadee
brings cheer and hope 1t is in its very
nature to do So
Yet on It's nest the mother bird can
seem rather fierce at times If spied
upon too much, she draws in her breath
and begins to swell up. Since a bird is
literally filled with air, even in the
bones, she draws in a great deal, and
then suddenly she puffs it out with
steam-like sound. 1t Is said that an
observer involuntarily closes his eyes
and draws back his head.