Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-11
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1OeH.
''F STREET.

STREET..
Dear Sir:
Saturday evening, April %, 1945,
was attracted by great number of
birds in the air over the area E to F, at
Seventh to Ninth streets NV. Becom-
ing interested in such large number,
many thousands, got within distance
for a closer observation. ).
AT Seventh and r streets saw these
birds, obviously chimney sweeps, en-
circling the large chimney of the heat
ing plant at the Tariff Commission
Building.
1.-THE birds were flying around and
around over the area with steady
number hating in their flight to drop
into the opening of the chimney.
The time was from about 7:45 to 8:15
pm. Finally after the thousands de-
scended into the chimney and only four
remained in the air, they, too, after an
apparently last playful flight. dropped
into the chimney.
This may be regular roosting place
OF these birds, but to me it was an event,
having never noticed it before. I thought
it might be worth while to call to your
attention.
Your very truly, H L. McC."
EIGHTH STREET s.W.
Dear Sir:
We'll. here are the swallows again,
this 23rd day of April, 1915.
Last year, according to my clipping
OF your This and That the swallows
were here in the forenoon of April 81.
I am quite certain that there were
none, at least near independence ave-
nue. and Eighth street SW, before to-
day. l am sure that I would not miss
hearing their twitter If any were in the
sky. But as to time of day, didn't see
them until after pm, but where I
was before that time during the day
was not swallow country, so perhaps
they were in Washington before that
time. Anyway, at about pm today
heard, then saw the first swallows at
Eighth street and Independence ave-
nue. SW.
With appreciation of all your under
standing comments and observations on
wild life. am
Very truly yours, G. G. W."
idaho AVENUE NV.
Dear Sir:
Reading your column is one of the
major delights of The Star.
you've answered SO many of my
questions without my asking them that
l am hopeful you can tell me what
manner of bird saw the other evening
There were literally hundreds of
them and they few around and around
in a circle
They flew back and forth over the
building tops but always in the circle
formation. They seemed to be rather
small birds
ut was about twilight, and they kept
flying in this peculiar manner as long
as could see.
Yours truly, G. r. NJ"
X X
Our first correspondents use of
Chimney sweeps" for the chimney
swallow or swift, reminds us of a story
that has never been told before.
Years ago in Georgetown an elderly
gentleman with gray hair was standing
on a ladder peering down into Chin
ney.
An excitable young matron ran out
OF another house, and, seeing the man.
called out: boy, are you a chimney
sweep"
The man pulled his head out of the
chimney and turned quite red.
Madam" he called, II am heating
engineer"
Real chimney swifts are common
summer residents and abundant mi
grants. In spring large numbers Of
them use some of the citys larger
chimneys as nesting places, and in the
autumn they use them as roosting
places.
Early spring migrants usually arrive
between April 5 and April 49, The fall
disappearance takes place between Oc-
tober. 10 and October Is, as rule.
Many OF the birds seen in the fall, of
course, are migrants, and first of such
fiocks usually arrive about August Is.
There is no other sight in Nature like
that of these birds circling chimney
and finally disappearing into 1t like
smoke In reverse.