Evening star., 1944-02-19
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeU.
"CHICAGO, III.

Dear Sir:
Il am visiting in this city and while
here am having The Star sent here and
continue to enjoy your column.
Several weeks ago a newspaper here
had half page color picture of birds
that are usual residents of this area,
with a description of the blue Jay as
follows:
blue jays: Although of beautiful
coloring, these birds are the trouble
makers of the bird world, being in
clined to bully other species around the
feeding stations and elsewhere
When I read this. I Immediately
wished I had just small bit of your
ability to write in defense of the blue
jay, for know from the many fine
articles I have read that you always
have good word for this fine bird.
Il don't know why this beautiful and
interesting bird is always designated as
the rogue Of the bird world.
II have observed them very closely for
several years and have never seen them
even pick at another bird, although I
have seen two little phoebes chase and
bully the jays.
This constant calling attention to the
blue jays faults seems to make a lot
of enemies for them among people (usu-
ally some who have never taken the
time to observe). I have even heard
some say they ought to be exterminated
because they are so mean.
"As I recall, in one of your articles
you called the jay the typical American
bird and ] thought that was the most
accurate and interesting description.
They always move so fast. they do not
seem to have time to bother with the
other birds
Il hope you will continue. to publish
articles that will help to lift some of the
stigma that has SO unfortunately been
placed on this fine feathered friend.
Yours truly, F. R. B."
Seeing for yourself in the bird world,
and then believing what you see, is the
criterion of pleasure and profit.
When one first takes up bird watch
ing in the home garden, it is'very diff
cult at times to believe exactly what
one sees, because sometimes it goes
contrary to what the books and other
people say.
After time the observer, sees that
if he wants to get both intellectual and
observations he must be true to him
self, before all. and in this way he is
sure to be true to the birds.
The amazing fact about watching the
birds is that there is still so much to
be learned about them This is both
astounding and fortunate. People have
been looking at and studying the birds
since the Garden of Eden, and still we
Hn kn0Jt7 h,1t froo of oil hot
may some day be known about them
man body and its nutrition. 1t is only
within a comparatively short time that
mankind has found out about the COM
position of the blood, and the role the
vitamins play. AS much as man knows,
he still does not know how to curb his
instincts for smashing the other fellow
in the jaw. This is the most important
knowledge he ever can acquire, and yet
he knows nothing about it. despite all
his longing for peace. Perhaps it is no
wonder that he still has a great deal
to learn about birds.
+ X * X
One of the first observations most
people make in their new suburban gar
den is that. the blue jay is one of the
most beautiful and interesting of them
all.
He not only flies fast and far, but is so
energetic that he cannot take much time
off to be still.
Actually he is not at any one place
long enough to commit one-tenth of the
Ill deeds which many people and some
of the books have attributed to him.
No bird has had to endure such
smear campaign as the blue jay, unless
it is the English sparrow. The campaign
against this most amusing and American
of birds began VIXEN the great Audubon
painted him holding dripping birds
egg in his claws. He undoubtedly has
done this i'll deed at times, of course, but
so have many other birds. One never
hears about them. 1t is always the blue
jay which bears the blame
1t seems to us as we'll as to our corre-
spondent and to many other bird lovers,
that the time has come for people in
general to stop this thing of picking on
Americas blue jays. He is one of our
finest species and deserves well of us.
Let us stop knocking things American.
There are enough people around the
world to do that without any help
from Us.