Evening star., 1944-05-02
This and That
BIZ Charles r. TrdceDeH.
"a STREET S.W.

Dear Sir.
This is from the gentleman who
phoned you this morning about the ar
rival of the swallows, at about 1890
am, April 21.
Despite inherited prejudices against
sparrows (English) and starlings, have
found them among the most entertain
ing Of birds.
Like the poor, we have them always
with us, with fine and abundant op-
portunity to observe them more than
any Other bird, soe tlseee entertain
esting in their conduct than, for In
stance, cardinals, of which a fine pair
come to the backyard under my win
dow, but they de- NOT. dn much that
is entertaining. n as
HE is now feeding her, so. OF course,
they are nesting, or soon will be. Many
birds. including pigeons, do that dur
ing the laying season.
Here's little story of sparrows and
starlings. I put out whole slice of
bread on the ground-a whole slice so
that it cannot be carried away and
deprive me of the entertainment.
IF broken up each one grabs piece
and flies away with it. The sparrows
come first and are followed in by the
starlings, which watch the sparrows
dropping down and follow them just
as buzzards, seeing one drop out Of
the sky, follow it down.
"A large and bossy starting, known
to me, came and took a peck or two
at the sparrows, then monopolzed the
bread, but between bites he must take
run with open mouth at the nearest
sparrow.
ITO my surprise q certain sparrow
mostly they are meek enough to the
starlings-was standing right up to
this starting and pecking at him.
Il thought, What a nerve he has!'
Then, watching closely, saw that this
sparrow, when the starting came at
him open-mouthed, with his beak full
of bread, was picking the bread right
out of the starling's mouth, beak, bill,
or what have you.
VERY cordially yours, G. G. W."
Chimney swifts arrived in Southwest
Washington and at other points on
the same date, April 81.
Wood thrushes were first heard in the
suburbs at 6:25 pm. on April 23 Their
usual date Of arrival is April %.
The chimney swifts came in at 1890
Is last year.
starlings greeted them!
These two species afford a great deal
Of instruction and entertainment to
the person who, as our correspondent,
will really watch them.
There is an old saying that you never
get out Of anything more than you put
into it. This aphorism rose in the pre-
psychology days, but it was based on
close understanding of human nature.
Many honest persons fail to realize
the fun of watching sparrows and
starlings simply because they need a
slight change of heart.
They should think of the English
sparroWs as belonging to mighty
family.
The starlings, too, they should re-
gard as among the most intelligent OF
all feathered things Their feat of
forming new migration routes in a
strange land entities them to raucn re-
spect.
AS our correspondent shows, if one
is willing to look with open eyes and
heart, he will see much in their con-
duct that is amusing.
He will find that this much abused
species is one of the few birds which
actually does altruistic deeds This COL
umn has carried the tale of the old
startling which rescued a young SPAR
row from drowning.
Their intelligence is shown by the
feat of one old fellow standing on the
back of another to keep its feet warm
in the snow
An old saying is that some one
hasn't got enough sense to come in
out of the rain"
The starting will seek shelter in a
rain and often will fly into feeding
box and stay there until the downpour
is over.
The massed flights of these birds
present as splendid a picture and as
fancy flying as may be seen anywhere
In the world.