Evening star., 1945-10-31
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeH.

WHITEHAVEN STREET.
Dear Sir:
Il have been asked whether it is true
that many lady mockingbirds 60 South
IN winter leaving their husbands alone
In the cold, and know no one so able
to answer that question as yourself.
Thank you for all you are doing to
increase the interest in birds of the
District of Columbia and to encourage
care of them.
Sincerely. M. L. B."
1t is a nice theory, that the mother
Knockers have enough sense to 60 South,
but that the males, with usual male
obstinacy, haven't enough brains to
follow them, but remain here in the cold
The truth is that it is exceedingly
difficult to tell the sexes apart. What
makes people think it is always the male
mockingbird which winters here is the
belligerency which 1t shows when food
Is put out for it.
Then it will often keep other birds
away, giving rise thereby to the impress
sion that it must be male! Surely nice
lady mockingbirds would not act so.
That, at least, is the usual impression.
Put out some doughnuts this winter,
if you want to please the mocker which
stays with you.
Even If he is not in your yard. but
down the block, he will finally spot the
food, and come flying in, with that
well-known show of white in his wings.
The chances are that he will drive
away every other bird that tries to get
his dinner.
II he finds something to suit him at
the bird feeding station, he may play
dog -the-manger there, driving away
all comers.
The thing to do, then, in such an
event, is to stop putting the things he
likes in the feeding station.
These foods are doughnut, bread, apple
and raisins. These should be placed on
the other side of the house, preferably.
That is, if the feeding station is in the
rear, place the food for the mocker in
the front yard; if the station is to one
side, select the other side, etc.
In this way there may be some chance
of preventing the belligerent mocker
from keeping the other birds from food.
Even If he insists on such tactics, he
will not keep at them too long, as a usual
thing. 1t is often the case that the
newcomer to bird feeding, especially if
he has just started it in the fall, will
feel very much put out about this action,
and will feel very strongly against the
mocker.
Time improves most conditions, as the
saying goes, and it will in this one. The
mockingbird may drive the smaller birds
away for time, but he has other busi-
ness to attend to, and after a few days
will spend most of his time away.
II care is taken to put out just the
foods he likes in another part of the
yard he will come to spend most of
his time there, leaving the other birds
| alone.
The mockingbird usually does not like
/ suet, and cannot do much with seeds and
grains.
The doughnut, for some reason, seems
to be universal favorite with him.
A half of an apple, too, supplies him
| food and drink. This is an acceptable
| fall and winter treat for most of the
birds which remain here.
They will peck away at it until Moth
ing is left but the skin, and they clean
from that most of the matter adhering
to it, SO it would almost seem as If these
| wise children of nature realize that the
vitanain content is very high there.
Some persons believe that the female
mcckingbird is slightly smaller than the
male, and somewhat paler, but when the
mate is missing these possible ways of
| telling one from the other do not
operate. Perhaps the best way to tell
| in winter is this: II the bird is mild, it
probably Is female: If belligerent, 1t
| may be the male.