Evening star., 1945-09-01
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrnceDell
ARLINGTON, Va.


Dear Sir:
Looks as If migration season is on.
Letters from Pennsylvania tell me that
the nights are getting pretty chilly.
There is nothing like chilly nights to
put the birds in humor to migrate.
"I have noticed swarms of small brown
birds come in and light on big weed
patch, feed on the seeds for a while,
then suddenly fly of like storm. What
species are they?
"I wonder If the writer who speaks
of seeing starlings didn't mistake them
for martins or swallows.
II have seen hundreds of them string
along the wires at this season Of year
on their way South.
Years ago up in West Virginia I saw
martins becloud the clear sky coming
home to their rookeries at twilight.
What has become of them?
"Soon our fine songsters will be gone
and will miss them. Always interested
in your daily column. I am,
Yours sincerely, E. L. W."
The swarms of small brown birds
probably were goldfnches In their winter
dress.
From now on we will see many migra-
tors, and so this is a good time to
establish feeding station.
Seeing domestic birds feeding will tend
to lure down the winged fellows Of the
air on their way South.
Since Texas won the war-or at least
that is the way Texans put 1.-THE South
is better place than ever for the birds
during the cold.
The lands to the South have always
exerted a great pull on the birds, and,
along with slowly cooling nights,
; charmed them to the places more or
less warm all winter.
Though we' lose the mockingbird. the
catbird and the house wren, we still have
the cardinals, the blue jays and some
Carolina wrens.
The latter is the big wren with the
loud voice. We heard one the other day.
We have always pictured this wren's
song as whirling; there is something
about it giving the effect Of circular
motion, like a pin-i-wheel.
Who recalls piniwheels, and hoops?
And tops? And many another game Of
childhood in the old days, but seemingly
forgotten by the young fry of today?
Increased traffic has put a sort Of
ban on rolling hoops, as well as spinning
tops, too.
Hoops were always regarded as girls
game. In the old days groups of small
girls sat on stone steps, or "stoops," and
bounced rubber balls as they scooped up
small metal "jacks"
Boys played mumbly-peg with knife
Nowadays they are all busy with more
ont
the stage, music, etc.
It is no wonder the children think
they are smarter than the kids Of yes
teryear. They really are.
AS for the birds, they come and go
this fall just as they have for nobody
knows how many autumns in the past.
Now and then stranger will drop
down in any suburban yard which
has water displayed. The birds have
marvellous eyes, and can catch the CLINT
Of water from afar, even for 2 miles, IN
some cases. (Buzzard)
Where they see birds feeding they will
fly down, although not often to feed with
the at-home species; what they will dc
is seek water and rest, and the house
holder should see to it that they are not
disturbed
A good pair Of binoculars will help in
watching these migratbrs, which in
September began coming through In
earnest.
Often they remain only few minutes
SO 1t will be necessary to look quickly
and accurately.
The other day we spotted a female
redstart, beauty. She was unafraid
and seemed to enjoy the bird bath. But
at last Weezie, the white and black cat
came leaping toward her, 30 she thought
discretion was the better part Of valor