Evening star., 1945-06-12
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdcea1eH
"ARLINGTON Va

Those were interesting lines on the
nuthatch recently. Yes, indeed, he is
one OF the most interesting birds. He
likes the cold winters of the woods.
Take day of, and get an empty facial
powder round box, fill it with peanuts
broken in quarters, and go among q
group OF oaks or any trees with rough
bark
Now get this: Hold the box with the
second finger and thumb, extend your
index finger rigid for a perch. Walk
slowly along with arm extended and up
and down motion. Very soon you will
notice or hear that familiar yank, yank.'
Then take it easy. and stop rigid, still
holding extended arm
After little inspection the bird will
notice the box in your hand. and quite
often will light on your finger, select a
nut, then look up and fly of to hide it
in bark crevice. and If he likes your
goodies will return again and again.
Often he will be joined by the other
two wood favorites, namely the tufted
titmouse and the chickadee. OF the
three, the nuthatch is the most colorful.
Up in those North woods they seem to
get brilliant blue plumage, likely the
male. Often a fine male cardinal will
trail along and to him you cast whole
peanut, but be sure and crush the end so
he can grasp it, and then you can have
most enjoyable morning in the woods.
I'm summer these birds are busy in
the deep woods with their work of clean
ing up on destructive tree larvae and
worms, and thus keep our forests free
of the many enemies that might destroy
them
IF you fail to get the bird down to
your box, then try this one Insert
small piece of nut between the rough
bark and see him circle down, down with
head down. Eagerly he picks out the
kernel to hide it away among the upper
branches Then what happens? Well,
the chickadee has been looking on, and
soon as Mr.. Nuthatch turns down for
more, the little chick grabs the goodie
and has himself feast. These birds
seem to work together, for they never
quarrel
Yours sincerely. E. L. W."
Nuthatches are not only sociable birds,
but they are intensely curious.
The idea of holding aloft a box of
food for them is good one, but often
the hand will do as well.
Just before the above letter arrived
a friend had told how his wife stood in
the. yard with hand up, and had the
pleasure Of drawing a nuthatch to it.
This beautiful bird is a favorite of
most persons, especially in suburban
areas where they come freely.
Indeed there is no bird which COM
bines beauty with business better. The
white-breasted nuthatch is SO friendly
that all the other birds get along with
him. and he impresses something of this
friendliness on even the most casual
human watcher.
His clean coloring, along with his trim
figure and unusual habits, sets him apart
from all others
He will remind the imaginative of the
great Napoleon in his light waistcoat.
At this point, let it be said that Napoleon
was an infinitely better man than Hitler.
The desire to compare then is often
irresistible, but 1t does injustice to
Napoleon I, who, after all, had many Of
the traits, of humanity, and achieved
good which still exists.
The nuthatch stays with us the year
around, although it seeks the woods in
the summer to some extent. Our corre-
spondent Is right in associating 1t with
the chickadee and titmouse The brown
creeper. too, is its particular friend.
Not every one has the power of draw
ing birds to the hand. Some persons
possess 1t q great deal more than others,
just as there are some people whom dogs
find irresistible. So we hope that no
one who goes parading through the,
woods. holding aloft box Of nuts, will
be disappointed II q nuthatch fails to
come. More likely, In some cases, he
will get 3 squirrel. who is, after all, q
nut connoasseur Of the frst water.