Evening star., 1945-09-27
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. TrdceUell

A pile of brush may not be very or
namental in yard, but 1t will draw
the redstarts, sometimes called fire.
tails
These marvellous little birds like
nothing better than pile of brush,
whether gathered from the lawn after
storm or from branches cut from q
fallen tree.
Two redstarts few into such a brush
heap the other day, darting in between
the branches and hopping down
through and out again.
They were about 534 inches long,
the male black with underparts white,
splotched with patches Of reddish
orange and white. The female had
patches of yellow and white
Such activity is seldom seen. Even
a well-vitaminized child is not as active
as the redstarts.
The name 'redstart" is a corruption
of redstert, meaning redtail.
The tail is kept partly spread as 1t
goes from limb to limb To get a
really good view OF them binoculars
are necessary.
We did not hear the male sing. Even
in the singing season his song Is not
much to listen to- No one should expect
to hear it at this time.
This pair was doing a good Job
cleaning up insects In the pile of
brush.
1t is said that redStarts become SO
interested in this work that they will
dart right down between ones feet in
their pursuit of an elusive bug"
Certainly this would astound the
average bird lover. 1t is not often that
songster will come so near in the
search of food. Perhaps the wood
thrush comes the closest of any bird
in the average suburban garden, but
the song sparrow Is close second
Neither would, as far as our experience
goes, come SO close.
1t is often possible to lure the pretty
song sparrow to within few feet by
keeping absolutely quiet in chair on
the lawn.
From a vantage point it is pleasant
to watch these sparrows as they hop
around so gravely on the serious
search for something to eat.
Few birds make q prettier sight than
the song sparrow at its bath. The
sunken bird bath of about inches in
depth is the best for this, as for all
species.
The song sparrow makes an elab-
crate toilet, bathing for at least two
or three minutes, turning around at
almost mathematical intervals, finally
hopping out and away, after giving
himself good shake.
We would advise every gardener not
to be in too great hurry to get rid
of brush and debris in the fall Some
times it seems as If the average home
owner has sort Of obsession in this
matter. He must get rid of what he
rakes up at once. Often he pollutes
the air of his home community for
hours with sinking smoke.
If he would not be in such hurry,
and would permit brush to remain for
several weeks, he would find that it
would attract many of the migrating
birds as they fly over.
like all natural things make a genuine
appeal to the birds and small animals.
| It Is true that if allowed to remain
| peal to snakes and rats. So one cannot
| advise their retention.
4 4
&C STREET.
Dear Sir:
"A most comical typographical error
occurs in my letter to you as published
in The Evening Star OF September 20
TN the third paragraph it states, 7
got out of the shed each morning about
8 or 10 o'clock
In my postscript Is outlined what
my wife told me occurred after had
gone out and the shed was perma-
hently closed Certainly sounds a.
though my wife made me sleep out ir
the shed, but believe 1t or not, Mr.
Tracewell, she really does allow me K
sleep in the house.
II think you will find that my thirc
paragraph reads, I got out to the shet
each morning, which makes quite q
different story Of It, as far as my locale
Is concerned. Hope you viii Join m,
In good laugh and publish this cor.
fection.
''Yours vesy truly. n. Z. W