Evening star., 1944-07-07
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TraceueH.

Special Investigations made by q local
biologist confirm the popular idea that
songbirds and others are more active
at dawn and twilight than at other
times of day.
The coming of the light Is heralded
by the songsters with mighty chorus
which is we'll worth waking up early to
hear
The clock will say about 5 O'Clock,
but of course 1t Is just O'Clock The
birds know nothing of daylight saving
time. They are not afraid of violating
any man-made edicts, because they
know nothing about them.
Evening at dusk is another favorite
period Then there is a renewal of
singing, with much attention paid to
feeding the young.
If little ground meat Is put out at
7 o'clock in the evening" it will attract
robins, thrushes catbirds. mocking-
birds, song sparrows, English sparrows,
starlings.
Any one who has not tried this should
do So 1t does not require much meat.
Almost any sort may be used. 1t is
best put in a paper container of some
sort on an elevated place where dogs
and cats cannot get at 1t.
The feeding pen in time may super
sede the plain feeding station 1t is
merely a round Of chicken wire at least
80 inches high, or higher, put entirely
around the feeding station or place.
In this way dogs and cats are kept
out, though not squirrels, and the birds
- sva hA aSS.ev
period.
1t should be kept in mind that all
baby birds are fed on insects and
worms, irrespective of the later eating
habits.
This means that ground meat is a
good substitute giving the required pro-
tein for growth at this period. The
birds know this the moment they smell
it, and seldom hesitate to avail them
selves of the extra supply OF protein
thus afforded them.
Worms and insects are the baby
food of the birds, and bit of ground
meat makes an excellent substitute. 1t
will be great help to the bird families,
since the parents are often hard put
to find enough food to 60 around.
Fortunately the evening period is one
of rest for most humans, who are thus
free to watch the birds. Putting out
a little meat at this time brings in many
extra specimens.
One may be 30 fortunate as to see a
small song sparrow mother feeding a
great lummox Of cowbird baby. What
becomes of her own young Is open to
question. Birds have plenty of intelli-
gence, in many ways, but this Is one
place where their brains do not seem to
operate. It is estimated that every cow
bird baby brought to adulthood by a
foster parent costs the lives of at least
five of our better birds. Yet the cow
bird is pleasant enough bird in other
ways, really quite handsome. especially
the male. The large baby is gray, in
two tones. He can feed himself, and
does so, when the foster mother is not
around but puts up a great squawk
the moment she comes back.
The morning chorus of the birds at
dawn is one of the great manifestations
OF nature. 1t is heard at its fullest in
the mountains in early spring, along
some of the natural fiyways, when mil
lions OF migrating birds join in the
daily welcome. Then it is almost over
powering in its majesty. But a great
deal OF 1t Is left in the suburban sec
tions. 1t lasts perhaps half an hour,
beginning gradually, swelling to full
chorus. and then dying away, as the
birds take up the self-imposed tasks
Of the day.
There is something actually SYM
phonic in the morning bird chorus.
But 1t must be heard to be appreciated.
No amount of talking or writing about
it will do half 80 well. Just write your
self ticket to fine concert by setting
the alarm at O'Clock. It is . musical
prescription easy 10 write ana to take.