Evening star., 1945-09-17
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrdceUeH

Bluebirds and flickers were having 1t
out in battle royal over by Chain
Bridge.
1t was the old story of the persecu-
ton of the small beauty by larger
species.
1t has been going on for many years,
and probably will continue as long as
there is a bluebird alive, because this
species is kind, friendly and timid.
Like all kindly living things, it not
only will put up with a great deal from
others, but also seems to invite attack.
Often among civilized beings-so-
called-these attacks are purely mental,
but among the creatures the species not
barbed or spined or otherwise armed
against attack will always feel the
brunt of assault
Often one hears. in criticism of the
English sparrow and starting that they
drive bluebirds away from their nests
This is true-but it is not only these
visitors which so treat the gentle blue
birds. Our own native species-inva-
riably larger-do the same thing, and
in much the same way.
When one pair of bluebrds is at
tackled by several flickers, the former
are joined by other bluebirds and may
at first be able to drive away the in
truders.
No sooner Is this achieved than the
pair is attacked again by another
flicker The flicker which joins battle
is allowed to rest. as his place is taken
by another, but the first pair of blue
birds is on the defensive all the time
In this same way the starlings often
oust bluebirds from their homes.
We do not believe, however, that these
true-blue beauties are as helpless as
they seem.
The interested human watcher, see
ing them prosecuted and driven away,
thinks it perfect shame etc. as it is,
but if he could follow the buebirds
after they have been driven away he
would see them fly to wooded section,
and there probably be comparatively
free from attack.
The bluebird likes best a stand of
saplings, with plenty of brush, where
his nest and babies have comparative
safety.
Like the woodthrush, originally a
forest bird, the bluebird likes to take up
his habitation near human beings.
This is not due so much to native
friendliness, one may believe, as to the
plain fact that where human beings
are there will be gardens, and where
gardens are there will be plenty of
insects.
Where there are insects there will be
plenty of baby food" for nestlings,
since insects comprise the first food of
all species, both seed eaters and insect
eaters
1t is mainly for this reason. in all
probability, that both wood thrushes
and bluebirds often nest in the sub
urban areas, when no doubt both of
them would be safer in the woods.
We cannot take from the birds their
right to do things because they wish
to, for no apparent reason which is
visible to us, the watchers. They are,
within certain rigid limits creatures of
free will, just as we are. They need not
be defending a nest when they resent
the appearance of f1ickers, nor need the
f1ickers necessarily be trying to take
nesting site away from them when they
persist in trying to drive them away.
Perhaps they all have reasons of their
own for acting the way they do, rea-
sons which the mind of man never,
never will be able to come to grips
with, because there is no way so far of
getting into an animal or bird mind
and finding out what makes it click. We
must remember that even the human
brain still is an uncharted ocean, with
great storms, calm, stress and strain,
the underlying motives Of which are still
hard to discover, despite the efforts of
Freud and many others. What goes on
In that brain across the table? No one
will ever know, and probably it Is just
as well.