Evening star., 1944-05-29
This and That
By Charles E. Trnceweu.

CHEVY CHASE, Md.
Dear Sir:
Il have been amazed at the tameness
Of the thrushes. This is my first spring
here, and the wood thrush is new to
me. We had practically none of them
back home.
"The other day while I was walking
along the street thrush flew down
with berry in its mouth.
1T hoped along the parking for
about rs feet, keeping about three feet
from me all the time as I went along
the sidewalk.
IT talked to the creature, and it would
look at me in the most appreciative
fashion. 1t is seldom that bird has
ever paid me so much attention, and
felt very much pleased.
''Is it usual for these birds to be so
tame? honestly believe that If had
stopped down, the thrush would have
permitted me to pet it. At least that
was the impression I had.
Sincerely, M. J. D."
Most wood thrushes are tame in the
suburbs.
AS its name would suggest, 1t was
originally bird of the forest, but in
recent years it has become mostly a
suburban bird.
In suburban sections the wood
thrush finds just the blend of wildness
and trees which it likes, combined with
great food supply.
The hermit thrush, its cousin, sticks
consistently to the deep woods.
1t is never seen in any section where
man builds house.
This makes all the more strange the
incoming Of the wood thrush.
1t is now a solid suburban citizen.
and the most unusual thing about it
Is It's almost total lack of fear. One
may feel confident that if a hermit
thrush ever dared to fly into Chevy
Chase, or Arlington, or Silver Spring.
1t would not act as the wood thrush
Goes. The hermit would fly away at the
first sight of man-and, looking the
world scene over, one must say that
1t would be impossible to blame him.
The wood thrush, on the other wing,
not only comes among us suburban
dWellers, but rather delights in our COM
pany, for which we give him much
thanks.
He Is bird Of the lawn, like the
robin, but specializes In the smaller
ground worms, and in larvae and other
insect stages and forms.
lhese ne finds beneath shrubbery.
where they have hibernated, and are
waiting the really hot days to come
forth to do their dirty work on the
plants and food products of man.
This tc ulere the 1,,oo-l
the scene
With his beauty part of him, and his
keen eye always at work, he steps for
"aro, unafraid OF man or his machines
Inc lawn mower makes no particular
impression on him. We have seen q
WOOD thrush hopping not more than two
leet IN 'front.' OF one, sprayed By the
nyiilg oiaoes. He showed no sign OF
fear.
When he is busy beneath q shrub.
looking for some speciality, he does not
worry IN the least II human comes
along
Even the chummy song sparrow is no
less fearful
Few birds possess a certain some-
lining more than the wood thrush This
certain something" is now called
glamour, when girl is referred to:
what to cali it when a thrush is men
toned is another matter.
Perhaps it would be Just as we'll to
iall back on that old standard and
hard worked word, Charm" The wood
thlusn mas 1t to an unusual degree. He
combines beauty and good manners IN
way unusual among feathered things
=, 1e especially friendly just before
he leaves us in October. Then II is not
unusual in the least to And WOOL
Iinusnes along suburban streets which
permit the passerby to come within
loot or two OF them before they hop
away 1t you would brisk up your ac-
quaintance with this best of birds, be
sure to watch out for him In the fall.