Evening star., 1945-06-13
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1oeH

Dear Sir:
In a recent article suggesting ways OF
assisting the birds in their nest building
by putting materials where they can
get them, noticed the omission of hair
Each spring I make habit OF put
ting combings removed from my brush
out of my window, and like to think
that my contribution to birds nests is
utilized. 1t is such an easy thing to do;
the combings have to be put some
place-why not out of the nearest WIN
dow?
Il have often heard that peoples hair
falls in the spring of the year Perhaps
this fact fits in to natures scheme of
things.
After many years of bird enjoyment
now that the aforementioned combings
are gray, / am preparing for the day
when, too feeble to dash out in search
OF the birds whose calls I hear, shall
find consolation in being able to say,
Well, anyhow, know what bird that
1t is out there
This shall be my reward for a study
OF bird songs and calls. Naturally, I
never expect to be able to recognize all
OF the songs that hear, but I am trying
each year to add few new bird songs
to this memory repertoire.
IF one lives in an apartment far
above the treetops, with no bird-feed-
ing station possible. may I recommend
this phase Of bird study as a satisfying
diversion, as well as real sport2
Very cordially yours. c. B. c."
Preparing for the inevitable is q sort
OF sport in itself. There are as many
methods as there are people 1t is as
old as the hills, as old as humanity.
Some believe in fasting and prayer,
some put their faith in insurance while
others believe in living one day at a
time.
Certainly there is something child
like and noble, one may think. in
trusting God so much that each day
Is taken as 1t comes, sufdcient unto it.
self.
Whatever one believes, little fore.
sight will not come amiss.
Thus, listening to the bird calls and
songs, as our correspondent says, will
lay up treasures for old age-provided
ones ears do not go back on one!
But Beethoven heard his music with
out ears, and no doubt many deaf bird
friends hear perfectly we'll the notes
they once treasured day by day.
Assistance to the birds is always worth
while, paying large dividends in hap
piness as we'll as inimical insects and
weed seeds devoured.
In spring and summer thousands of
persons pick up baby birds which fall
from nests, and try to bring them up
by hand" In perhaps so per cent OF
the cases the birds die, but even then
something noble has been achieved.
There is no reason why the hair of
the human head would not be used by
many birds. Titmice are addicted to
pulling 1t out by the roots! Many
cases have been reported of these little
fellows flying down onto a porch and
selzing hair out of the head of some
person there. Titmice even have
flown down and pulled hairs from a fur
coat while its wearer was waiting for
a bus.
If hair is put out, it is best to cut
each length to no more than or 4
inches.
Lengths of twine, wool. ETC.. should
never be more than inches; longer
FASSSo AAoy AAo4iS tllC OlrQ
which becomes entwined with them
among leaves.
Study of bird calls and songs is a life
long job. Even then one Is sure to miss
many Of the sounds or never be able to
place them with the right bird, there
are so many, and the sounds so varied.
This column would be pleased to hear
from persons who have maintained bird
feeding stations at various heights in
buildings.
Various reports have come in that it
is impossible to attract the birds more
than three stories from the ground, and
We have often wondered If this Is true,
Birds are high fiyers-there is no
real reason why they shouldn't patron-
ize 4 feeding station at any height,
provided they like the fare put out. But
if they won't come, then they won't. If
any reader has any report on this mat
ter. 1t would be welcomed.