Evening star., 1946-10-30
This and That
BY Charles Z. TraceUell
BETHESDA, Md.

"Our mockingbird thought it was
spring that day. He sat on, a limb Of
red oak and sang hour after hour. He
was right in SO far as the feel of the
day was concerned. It did seem spring,
so warm and mild, the air very unlike
autumn. ST.. -
Il am always glad to have q mock
ingbird stay all winter, and am hoping
missed this snowtirne pal. We have
never had any trouble with our winter
ing mockingbirds They have never
chased other birds or kept them away
from food. suppose that does happen,
but never In our yard.
Sincerely. II. H."
People on first moving to the suburbs
wonder about the mockingbird.
They think he should migrate.
Perhaps his wife does! There is some
doubt as to whether she stays or goes
south. as any wise bird should.
It is generally believed, perhaps with
justice, that the mockingbirds which
remain here are males.
That would account for the bellig-
erency of some Of them.
!. It Is an undoubted fact that many of
them put on q "dog-in- the -manger" act
at feeding stations. Often they take up
a post and attack every other bird which
shows itself
This sometimes makes the ardent bird
enthusiast angry. There are 90 many
creatures and enough food for all, but
this one mocker refuses to let any other
eat.
It is very disconcerting.
Various expedients have been tried to
overcome the belligerent birds narrow
mind. Food is put out on the other
side Of the house. In the hope that
this will draw him away from the main
feeding place.
Sometimes this works, and again 1t
does not, depending upon the mocking-
bird.
Sweet tempered Knockers may be told
from the "n1eanies'' by the appearance
of their faces. It Is not 80 easy as among
human beings, but with little ex-
perience the good ones are easily sep
arated from the more bellieerent birds
When this Is done, however, the prob
lem remains How to make a rnocking-
which more often than not Is not solved
by anything the human members of the
scene may do about 1t.
But time has way all its own of
solving most problems, and this Is one
of them.
Instead Of chasing the belhgerent
naockingbird away, or refusing to let 1t
eat, all one has to do Is wait.
Waiting Is natures principle Of re-
form.
Waiting brings the greenness to the
grass, and the birds from the warm
clinles. It soothes wounds, and brings
healing
And in its fullness, time will amelio-
rate the meanness Of some one mean
mockingbird.
Just when you think there Is moth
ing to be done but shoot the creature,
If you want the other birds to have
anything to eat, the rlnockingbird caln1s
down.
Either he flies to another yard-and
remains-or he suddenly reforms.
He is worth waiting for, indeed. Few
birds are any prettier, or more interest
ing to watch once you realize that
they can be made friends by putting out
raisins for them, the mockingbird In
your yard becomes Joy.
Once the bird begins to expect raisins,
q favorite food he will remind you when
you fail to keep his supply up.
He will fly to window, and hang onto
the outside of the frame by his toes,
looking into the room. This is one of
the best possible views of this bird. We
believe that any one who has seen the
small anxious face looking in will never
thereafter fuss and fume at the species,
no matter what 1t does. This has been
our own personel experience, for at one
time we failed to see the beauty of the
mocker, but time has happily changed
all that, and today II is one OF our
special fayortteA