Evening star., 1946-07-15
This and That
BIZ Charles z. TrdceUeU
BETHESDA, Nd.

Dear Sir:
Il noticed recently where some of
your readers seemed to question summer
feeding of the songbirds.
The only question, as far as can
see, is where to get the food to give
them,
certainly, they should be given food
If it can be obtained, since free feeding
draws may score more birds than come
to yards where feeding is done only In
winter.
The more birds. the more insects
consumed, to say nothing and I say
great deal of the fine thing of having
them around.
Most persons think they have birds
In warm weather. and so they do. but
they will be amazed at how many more
they have. and the greater number of
kinds, if they feed the year around.
LAS you once pointed out, il feeding
is carried on during spring and summer
the place becomes natural bird sane
tuary, ready to draw migrating species
in the fall, and then to continue to
attract birds which stay here Ill winter
In this way the yard where feeding
is carried on actually has more birds all
winter long than it had during the hot
months.
Il have seen people going along our
street stop in amazement during the
cold and snow to listen to the birds in
our yard.
This is worth 1t all. as far as I am
concerned, to have all these fine birds
during the time of year when most gar
dens are cold and bare
Il think there is nothing more dismal
than the average small garden in winter
everything grey and dead.
The birds in numbers bring it life
again, and keep it alive all during the
snow. drizzly rain, sleet. wind. There
Is never day too bad for them, so long
as they get plenty to eat.
Il started this many years ago. when
you first wrote about summer feeding
| You gave all the reasons at that time,
and I have seen nothing new added to
1t.
II began it and was amazed at the
pleasure it brought me. The summer
feeding. especially of ground meat when
it can be secured, is a great help to the
birds in caring for their young.
The best thing however, Is the
fact that the birds know where to come
and are there in fall all eager to come
every day for the whole winter, Just so
| long as food is there for them.
Il realize that this is a city and sub
urban attitude Of mind No doubt, In
country districts. certain birds do harm,
! but hereabouts they are all my friends
| and I do not imagine that even in the
| growing districts they do half as much
! harm as some would have us believe.
"Gratefully yours, S. J. D."
| The good thing about bird feeding, 1t
seems to me, is that people may do it
or not do 1t, just as they please.
There is nc compulsion about it. and
| this is good in day and age when CON-
| pulSion. eithert direct or indirect, is
| sweeping around the world, ready to
! flower into out -and-out tyranny unless
! we keep vigilant
The birds will get along all right. if
one puts out no food for them in spring
and summer. Even in winter, most of
them will survive
The aid we give them is freely given.
and so must seem more welcome to two
! legged creatures who have no theories
or lines to follow except living.
Living is pretty fine thing.
We hear SO much about diving. that
| at times We tend to forget the glories
of living. But every one holds onto life
as long as possible, and in this, as in
many other matters, keeps kinship with
the wild animals, the birds and the bees.
the foxes and the fishes of the seas,
| rivers, creeks and smaller streams.
We are all in the same world together.
| and when we put out food for birds. IL
respective of season, We do something
| to make 1t better world.
What easier Way2