Evening star., 1945-05-12
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeU.
FALLS CHURCH, Va.

Dear Sir:
Our neighbor, M. j. F. might tell the
doubters OF the robins song to listen for
his vesper concert from high in the top
OF tall tree, especially If clear sunset
follows an afternoon shower.
Just yesterday, was entertained in
another way. I've no use for SQUIRRELS.
but l can't deny them drink from the
bird bath when they seem thirsty. One
had hoped on the rim of the bath, with
all four feet in huddle not larger than
quarter, and was taking long Swig,
when a feathered dive-bomber hit him
Wham! in the back of the neck, and
then flashed out of sight behind a tree.
Mr.. Squirrel jumped high, wide and
handsome across the pool and ambled
toward the street, when the bird, an in
dlgnant robin, reappeared and chased
him to tree on the parking.
The robins are the most frequent
drinkers and bathers, even in quite cool
weather, and this one, apparently, was
trying to convince the chiseling squirrel
that this particular puddle is mare
nostrum.' Very truly yours, D. c."
CAIRO HOTEL.
Dear Sir:
When the gentleman mentions the
robin he hits onto the best bird in the
meadows and gardens. Up in Pennsyl-
vanla they are the first to appear in
early spring and the last to leave in fall.
In fact, many will stay all winter if
they can find food and shelter. The
main reason is they love to feast on
the many ground worms of that section.
After shower the garden and mead
ows will be dotted with robins pulling
out the worms. I have seen pairs of
them carrying the worms to the young
birds from dawn to dark.
I'm spring they carry a bright red
plummage and this is when they send
forth those sweet, plaintive notes. It's
not loud whistle like the cardinal, but
kind of triple tongue song which
they vary somewhat, as you say, before
rain shower.
Robins are very fond of fresh fruits
and berries, but if the farmer plants
few wild cherry and juniper trees along
the outer fringe of the orchard, they will
not molest the domestic fruit.
After their long siege of war against
all manner of destructive bugs and in
sectS, they think they are entitled to
little fresh fruit.
"As the warm days of July and Au-
gust come, their song is stilled, till in
October you will again hear them.
"For a general al-around utility bird,
I'll take Sir Robin.
Yours truly, E. W."
X X X X
Raisin eaters are among the finest
birds.
These include the robins, mocking-
birds, catbirds, thrushes and cardinals.
Perhaps we should have said that
raisin eaters are the most fun to watch.
Then we could have included the various
sparrows and the starlingS, all of which
sare fond of them.
A few raisins sprinkled through the
food to many species, and much pleasure
to watchers.
Fortunately, raisins are still point
free, and fairly plentiful. Does the lat
ter follow from the first? Many per-
SONS believe that there has been no
necessity for much of the rationing.
But however that may be, the birds
know nothing about mans foolishness.
Not only do these species eat the
ralslns from the green table, but also
oAASJ So2AJ q 4CW UdCh 10 Cll6 nest.
The robins particularly like to eat
from the grass. In throwing out the
raisins, do not mind if they disappear to
human sight. The birds can see them!
And do not worry if the squirrels find
them. The birds are used to sharing
their food with them. In their turn, the
squirrels hide much food which is found
by birds. Nature has her own rather
haphazard way of taking care of such
matters. We say haphazard, because
her methods often seem to lack planning.
But when we see what planning has
done to the human world in the past IL
years, we may wonder if natures rather
informal methods are not the best, after
all. If man would base himself more
on nature, and less on himself, he would
stand better chance of achieving what
he wishes with the better part of his
mind and heart.