Evening star., 1946-07-02
This and That
By Charles Z. Traceuell.
. i TuCGUG(t.
DALLAS, Tex.

DALLAS, Tex.
Dear Sir:
While painting house I looked down
the chimney and saw-about 10 feet
from the top and on q jutting stone
a well-built birds nest. 1t contained
five eggs, but no bird, and I asked my
self whose nest and whose eggs?'
But when descended to the ground
a bird that had been watching from
a nearby hedge took off and few down
the chimney.
$50 hurried back up the ladder and
saw mocking bird settling herself on
the nest.
DO mockingbirds usually build their
nests In chimneys? If they don't they
are not wise, for no better protection
from bad weather and prowling cats
could be found.
Yours truly, E. F. r."
Nests Of mockingbirds are placed In
many different locations, but mostly
in hedges and shrubbery, often close
to the house
They are placed within 10 feet of the
ground, as rule, but sometimes as
high as so feet. They are seldom If
ever put on the ground.
Eggs usually number from to 6, blue
green spotted with brown.
The reason that few Of them seek a
nesting site such as chimney is that
they do not need to do so for protection,
since they fear neither man or beast
When a mockingbird pair sets up
housekeeping in yard. they often be-
come nuisances, at least the male does
by persistent protection of the nest and
young.
The male spends hours every day fly
ing at every living thing. including the
master of the house
1t accompanies these flights with a
harsh grating noise that In times gets
on the nerves of all the household.
Not cat or dog can show itself but
the mocker flies at 1t. Even perfectly
inoffensive creatures, in no wise given
to killing birds, are chased along with
those which may deserve to be pestered
This goes on all the time the female
is incubating the eggs, about II days,
or thereabouts, and becomes a perfect
fury Of assault when the babies are
Matched
Then let every yard roamer beware,
or the father mocker will peck at ears
and nose, and if by chance he should
ever land perfect blow with his bill
at an eye, some real damage would be
done.
In the main, however, the mocking-
bird is fine fellow, except at such
times in the winter as he chooses to
play dog-in the -manger at bird feeding
stations.
The remedy for this latter situation
Is to put out raisins or doughnuts at
some other point.
No better mockingbird food can be
found at any time of year than raisins
If they are put in the yard, or on a
porch railing, they will be sought bv
Knockers all over the neighborhood.
| They eat some, and take the rest away
to the nest, making many trips for the
| purpose. There is a fine mocker living
across the street from us, and he comes
| to our back porch many times a dav
| feeling pretty sure that he will find
| food there.
II none has been put out, he will
fly to the kitchen window and peer in
| a gesture of confidence which ALWAYS
| wins him food.
| He is fearless, and will almost come
to hand for raisins. He would do so
with s little more patience on our side
Mockingbirds often perch on chin
ney tops, but are not so likely to nest
in them. Chimneys do not make Al
good nesting sites as might seem. Some
fool human is too likely to start q fire
or clean It out.