Evening star., 1945-01-01
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUell.

Water is as much a necessity for birds
In winter as in summer.
Often it Is much more dificult for
them to find it,
Cold weather is dry weather, and 1t
means that there are SO small puddles
or pools left. And then there is the
matter of Ice.
Thoughtful persons who wish to do
something for the songsters that stay
here all winter will set out shallow
pans in the sunny afternoons.
II this water is slightly warm to begin
with. it will remain unfrozen a much
longer time
Regulation bird baths on pedestals
may be used, provided they are the sort
which will not crack
The way to handle them successfully
and to give the most delight to the
birds is to fill them only about half an
inch deep
Fluttering wings finally flop out most
of the water so that there Is little to
freeze.
If more is put in and the surface
freezes over. additional water the next
afternoon, provided it is warm, will do
much to unfreeze the old supply.
The new water is poured right on the
cake of ice.
Owing to the oil on the feathers, water
in winter bathing does not harm the
resident birds in the least.
In fact they seem to get a special
pleasure out of cold weather bathing.
If they have food and are warm the
water merely acts as tonic
Drinking water is a need, too; some
persons genuinely fond of birds seem to
forget this.
Wherever birds are fed regularly a
shallow dish should be put out.
This is best done in the afternoon in
the sunshine if the day is sunny Not
only will it remain unfrozen longer, but
the birds enjoy afternoon water the
best.
1t seems to take them until l or 2
o'clock in the afternoon to wind them
selves up.
Watchers will understand this 1t is
no rarity to find humans at Offices and
other places who need almost all the
forenoon, or at least until IL o'clock, to
get themselves into good humor.
X X X
Birds are somewhat the same Morn
ing hours in cold weather are devoted
to the primary necessity of finding food
Even water can wait until the food
requirements are satisfied A bird does
not need much water, but he must have
few drops. The amount in proportion
to the solid food taken is much smaller
than with human beings This is be-
cause the bird is much more perfect
creation in sense. He has more air in
him and less tissue. Many of his tissues
are highly specialized. The feathers,
for instance, are unique. They need
little moisture, only some oil, to keep
them in good trim.
The rapid metabolism of the bird
body makes such complete usage of the
food ingested that moisture is not so
much needed as part of the process.
But birds do need some water, both
internally and externally. Succulent
berries and fruits are impossible to
obtain hereabouts in winter Most of the
food they find is very dry. Most of the
grains and seeds put out for them by
sdmirers, people who recognize the part
played by birds in our national life, are
practically deprived of moisture.
1t is an interesting sight, group of
feeding birds watching water brought
out in the middle of the afternoon.
They act very excited, flying before
one to the bird bath, perching in shrubs
nearby, chattering away in anticipation.
This is bird act which no friend of
theirs should miss, and it easily is seen
through providing water for them at
fixed time every day. Birds are very
time-conscious. They form habits, too,
and like to participate in group actions
with their friend, man.