Evening star., 1945-11-12
This and That
By Charles Z. TraceDeH.
"TAKOMA PARK. D. c,

"TAKOMA PARK, D. G.
Dear Sir:
After three days of feeding the birds
our fun was completely spoiled by
English sparrows. They came in large
1ocks and devoured all the seed. About
10 minutes after it was put out it was
entirely cleaned up. Also the starlings
came and feasted on the suet until the
whole supply was gone. We had such
good time watching the cardinals,
song sparrows, mocking birds and blue
jays eat at the feeding station, but
when the English sparrows discovered
the food the other birds didn't have a
chance.
II would not mind feeding them all
except that the English sparrows and
starlings come in such large numbers
as to make it too expensive, especially
with sunfower seed at 80 cents pound.
understand the Department of Agri-
culture encourages the trapping of
English sparrows. Do you think that
would solve the problem or would more
keep coming?
"If you know of any solution to our
problem, please let us know, as my
little girl, age 8, takes a great interest
in birds, and I want to encourage this
interest. I believe it will mean much
to her all her life If she learns to notice
and love the things of nature while
she Is yet child
Sincerely yours, j. M. c."
4 X
An English sparrow is q child of
nature, too, and quite as hungry in the
cold as the most beautiful native bird
Bird study for children must include
them, for they can be as interesting as
cardinal or a jay, looked at properly.
Tolerance is good study, also, and
this may be given in elemental form by
welcoming the sparrow hosts, also the
starlings.
Both species embody the grit and
determination which we applaud in hui
man beings.
Each was brought here against It's
own will. Each has done the best it
could, building up an entirely new tribal
life in a new land.
It is true that both the English spar-
row and the starting do some damage
to native species, particularly in driving
them away from nesting sites
The sparrows poster the bluebirds,
and the starlings will take the nesting
places of the flicker and Others
Yet just because bluebird is driven
away from particular yard does not
mean that it gives UP nesting Far from
it! The bluebird simply withdraws to
the woods. 1t is lost to the home
grounds, but not to nature.
Trapping may be tried, but certainly
it is not good sport for small child
b. {a1N Ca L. u
mites is one solution, but better is
to take them clear across town and
release them.
We believe that the best solution is
to accept the sparrows and starlings,
realizing that song sparrows and car
dinals accept them, eating amicably
with them. Surely If bird is judged
by the company 1t keeps, the English
sparrows and starlings are all right.
One famous bird watcher Of the
Washington area. the late Harry S.
New, said that when one puts out q free
lunch, he has no right to quarrel at
those who come.
Something may be done by placing
mixture Of baby chick feed, with a
bit of better-grade bird mix in it, In a
certain spot onfthe ground, and reserv-
ing the feeding stations for closer
position to the house. In the station
the sunflower and expensive seeds may
be placed.
It seems impossible to have everything
In this world just the way you want It.
Truly, bird feeding station with Just
the mice birds" attending 1t would be
best. But by accepting them all as
they come, and making the best Of
them, one works closely to the heart Of
good, which bird feeding must be, to
b anything at III