Evening star., 1945-05-14
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdce1peH.
TWENTY SECOND STREE

TWENTY SECOND STREET.
Dear Sir:
Onto the window sill fiew gray
and black pigeon.
TT looked so peculiar, moved quietly
closer and saw that 1t had an average
size slice Of toast around its neck like
bib
Evidently the force of it's pecking at
such desirable food tipped the round
hole up over its head.
I'VE watched it for half hour as 1t
tried to squirm out OF it, but 1t made
no headway
When we finally tried to raise the
window to help, off he few, leaving us
to wonder what his fate would be.
What do you think happened?
Sincerely, M. VAN r. F."
ALABAMA AVENUE.
Dear Sir:
Until this past year the sparrows
design for living has not been among
my interests, perhaps because lived in
the heart of New York City. where the
feathered kind that brought Nature
near without undue noise was the
pigeon.
For the past year have been plac-
ing brown rice, bread crumbs and some
times few raisins on my window sill
Sparrows are the only breed that has
accepted my invitation to come and get
it and they have become so accustomed
to the handout that they awaken me
demanding breakfast. 'Chirp, chirp,
chirp' go the sparrows until / produce
the food
Recently there has been a new note
added and I find that 1t is the voice of
young sparrows, as large as the mother,
but with fluff1er wings and bills that
resemble young chicks. The poor moth
ers of the broods, which seem to run
from one to four, are wearing them
selves out feeding their offspring. fight
ing off other grown sparrows and flying
away and back in excitement when my
shadow frightens them.
When the mother Is not with them,
the crying young sparrows manage to
eat, but as soon as the mother responds
TO the call for food, they stop helping
themselves and stand awaiting a bit
from her bill.
Are these just spoiled youngsters, or
do all mother sparrows continue to feed
their young after they can fly and eat?
Are the sparrows hatched earlier
than usual this year? Those that amuse
me must be at least 6 weeks old, which
would indicate they were worn during
the hot spell in March. Under normal
weather conditions, wouldn't the naked
little fedglings die of cold If born In
March? Sincerely, E. McC."
\ 4
A pigeon with bread necklace Is not
In much danger If rain comes up
the problem is solved quickly by the
softening of the bread. Without this
help, however, the bird is still in little
danger, because the necklace is not as
hard as iron and will wear off through
motion and rubbing. Besides this, the
food is very tempting to other pigeons
who, 1t may be presumed, will not let
such a moving food supply 60 by with
out attempting to get some of it. Pi-
geons are greedy birds. They are not
afraid of each other and undoubtedly
one which carried food around its neck
would be the target of all bills until it
was relieved of its burden.
AS to English sparrows, the nesting
season usually begins early in March
-Four or five broods are sometimes raised
in one season. A female In 1894 was
seen carrying straws as early as Feb
ruary IA. 1t may be seen that it is no
new thing for young English sparrows
to be born in very cold weather Their
high temperature-about 103 degrees
their mothers care and the quick
growth Of feathers save them from dis
aster.
Most baby birds will eat from their
parents bills as long as the older birds
will stand FOR IL voiypo eno rrou,c ava
perhaps not as bad in this respect as
the young OF some other species, par
ticularly the cowbird and starting. The
latter are perhaps the worst Of all in
wishing to be fed for weeks after they
can feed nicely by themselves when the
father or mother is not around.