Evening star., 1945-12-06
This and That
By Charles E. Trdceueu
COTTAGE CITY. Nd.

Dear Sir: ~
Like so many others we have read
and enjoyed your column, and row
come to you with our bird problems.
we have always fed birds in OUR
yaro or even IN apartment house win
dows.
My husband loves to watch the birds
and lately made feeding station and
placed 1t on a pole not too high, but
SAFE from cats, so that the birds did
not have to run this risk by eating at 4
lower point where we had kept the food.
All was very nice until q new bird
came along.
"A regular 'dog-in-the- sort
OF fellow. At first he fed with all the
other birds, very pleasantly, on the
ground.
He likes crumbs and raisins, drinks
lots OF water. But after the new feeder
was set up and after the titmice had
found and enjoyed 1t he became very
disagreeable.
He Will not allow any birds to eat
at the station. So we put some food on
garden table nearby But now he
guards both and fights OF all birds. He
does not eat the seeds himself but he
Will not allow another bird near the
place.
Yesterday the titmouse tried to out
wit him all day. But today all the birds
have given up to him. He sits in a near
oy place and watches all day for others
to come.
This bird We have labeled junco.
but feel that this is not correct. For in
the past we have known the junco as .
gentle, sweet bird and 4 little smaller.
perhapsr than this fellow.
He Is gray, with white feathers along
the outer side of wings, which show up
very fine while in flight. A white marx
on the top of wings. Darker head and
lighter back and still somewhat lighter
breast.
Il would say he is about the size of a
robin with slightly longer tail, which
he carries up quite pertly.
Just what is this new bird? Will the
other birds outwit him or get up courage
enough to come on anyway? Have YOU
any suggestions on this bird? He is
welcome for himself, but he isn't very
nice to keep others away from food he
Will not eat. Sincerely, X. G. G."
X *&
The bird is the mockingbird.
He is, as this correspondent has found
out, the real and only "dog-in-the.
manger" of the local bird world.
This is peculiarly his winter behavior.
A few of them stay every winter. espe-
clally in the suburban sections.
They are attracted by bread, dough-
nuts, raisins and apples.
Ordinarily, if these foods are not put
out, the Knockers will not come, but oc.
casionally one of these ill-tempered
specimens comes anyway.
Just how long he will persist in chas-
ing other birds away varies with the
specimen in question. Some of them
will give up within q few days, especially
if the foods they like are regularly put
out for them on the other side Of the
house.
Other specimens seem to take per-
verse delight in keeping other species
from eating anything.
Now and then some particular vicious
seeming mocker will never cease pester-
ing the other BIRDS As to what NAV be
done about him is any ones guess. Few
persons will try to solve such problem
by hurting him. His actions are reflex
purely from the instinct which makes
him protect his nest in summer. The
householder must not feel too much
against him. He. too. is part of ma
ture. Surely his glorious singing in
spring and summer tends to make up
for all his i'll ways.
Most such cases tend to clear up,
gradually. 80 that In time the other
species tend to come back, one BY one.
and the mockingbird to leave them
alone. Food should be put out regularly,
leaving out all mocker foods, or placing
them Ia some other part Of the grounds
Mostly, the smaller birds will get enough
70 eat 70 satisfy them.