Evening star., 1944-03-01
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TruceWell.

Titmice like watermelon seed
This is new discovery brought about
by the lack of sunflower seed and, sub
sequently. cantaloupe seed.
Both of the latter are hard to get, so
watermelon seed is being used in some
of the mixtures sold as "wildbird food"
1t is the tufted titmouse which seems
to profit most by the exchange.
He now is coming to feeding stations
where he was rare, evidently succumb-
ing to the lure Of these rough, tough
looking, and white seeds.
1t seems as if all the birds which used
to eat sunflower seed, and later canta-
loupe, now consume the watermelon
seed
This is good thing, because various
seeds from time to time become ex-
tremely difficult to find in the market.
Large quantities of sunflower seed
have been sent to our Russian Allies.
They regard them as a sort Of delicacy,
much as we do candy
Millions Of pounds of cantaloupe and
watermelon seeds must go to waste in
this country every year.
Perhaps some one will start a cam
paign to save them. If all homes, res
taurants and hotels would see to 1t that
all these seeds were saved, instead Of
being thrown away, no bird need go
hungry in our winters
~
Extra feeding of birds needs no apolo-
gy any more. There may have been
time when some persons looked askant
at supplementing their natural larder.
Today all that Is changed.
1t Is realized by most persons that
the birds are among our greatest natu-
raj resources. Many factors, some of
them extremely obscure, work against
them All the species need all the help
we can give them
In turn, our birds help us by cleaning
up on millions of pounds of ininical
culation literally millions upon millions
Of harmful insects before they can do
the food crops any harm.
1t is interesting to note that squirrels
are fond OF all three seeds mentioned.
X X
Persons interested in bird feeding,
and who are pestered by pigeons at
tracted by the food, will do well to look
over their mixtures.
Use of baby-c chick feed, so-called, will
attract pigeons.
If this mixture is taken away, there
will not be as many of the large birds,
which are seldom an attraction at a
feeding place.
The pigeon, the startling and the
English sparrow are typical of the
downtown. and all three OF them are
perhaps best away from the suburban
spot designated for the wildbirds.
Yet all will come, OF course, to any
place where food is put out. This is
part OF the picture, and calinot be
helped. Those who grow red in the
face over unWanted guests mad better
give up the enterprise altogether.
The titmouse Is shy bird at many
feeding places.
That watermelon seed attracts him
is worthy of note. The chickadee is not
so shy, and will come to any feeding
station, especially in the twilight hours
beloved Of the cardinal
The titmouse, however, Is another
bird. He is the one with the crest, a
small bird with touch of orange along
his stomach His main color is pale
gray.
He is the one which whistles up the
dogs. his loud whistle ringing out over
the garden from time to time. At close
range he can be heard to utter an
angry sort of chattering.
Many friends of birds have a recu-
liar affection for the titmouse. plural,
titmice.) Both male and female have
the crest.
Crested birds have an advantage over
other species, in that they are more
readily recognized, and also can display
their emotions more easily. The crest
can be lowered or erected and, when
laid fiat against the head, practically
vanishes.