Evening star., 1945-06-22
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceUeH.
FALLS CHURCH, Va.

Dear Sir:
There seems to be an unusual number
of wrens this wear, and although I
have more than the prescribed number
of four houses to the acre, I have ten
ants for all, including the second nesting
of phoebes. Robins catbirds and
thrashers have nested in the various
climbing roses about the cabin.
Il believe I was instrumental in saw
ing the life of a baby wren which my
neighbor brought to me Sunday morning
after the nest was disrupted and the
other three were found dead.
I'VE placed it in the nest of a wren
who had been feeding her own offspring
for several hours, and l hesitated at
first, fearing she would recognize the
stranger as not of her own breed, but
whether or not she did, she continued
to feed them in turn, while l watched
from inside the room
Il was much relieved to see her carry
on. as it was not humanity possible to
gather up the gnats and bugs necessary
to nurse a bird to maturity.
Sincerely yours, o. E. c.
This is the best way to raise baby
birds which have fallen out of the nest.
If possible, they should always be put
back into a nest of their own species.
The mother practically never rejects
the newcomer, and how could she, since
she is unable even to tell the difference
between her own young and the baby
cowbird which sometimes matches out
in her nest?
It will not do to put baby bird in
just any old nest. but even this might
be tried rather than attempt to bring
up the creature by hand"
1t is often impossible, however, to
find nest which can be reached.
In that case there is nothing for the
kind-hearted person to do except to
undertake to raise the bird.
This is not as difficult as our corre-
spondent thinks, since it is not neces-
sary to gather gnats and bugs for
them.
The young of all species will do well
on certain human foods
These are the protein foods, including
meat, eggs, milk and cheese.
Whole wheat bread is good, too.
Even today perhaps it is possible to
secure bit of some sort of meat, now
and then, and this may be scraped for
the young bird.
Bits may be poked at the bill, ,.or even
put on the end of a toothpick.
Food offered is simply poked at the
bill. Until the young bird gets the idea,
it may be necessary to force feed by
opening the bill.
The yolk of a hard-boiled egg is
excellent Milk and bread are used as
bread-and-milk
Cottage cheese may be accepted.
These foods do very well for most
species. since they are high in protein.
They may be supplemented by such in
sects and small worms as may be gath
cred.
Birds are not finicky Even young
ones will eat some very terrible looking
beetles. and especially those which seem
too large to be swallowed.
The young bird should be offered a
mixture of dirt and sand. A few crawl
ers placed in this will tempt the baby
to feed itself
Any species may be raised in this way
Insects are the "baby food of all spe-
cies, irrespective of the fact that they
may be insect eaters or seed eaters when
they are grown.
Plenty of water should be available
at all times. 1t may be necessary to
give it with a medicine dropper at first.
Feeding should be every two hours at
first, but there is no need to feed at
night.
Fruits and berries should be fed very
sparingly, if at all, until the bird is
full-grown.
An excellent food, if it can be found.
Is liver. Bits of this will be better than
insects and worms.