Evening star., 1946-02-05
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeH.
ARLINGTON, Va.

Dear Sir:
Il am writing mostly for confirmation.
Last Sunday morning, after the unex-
pected snowfall, my young daughter Ann
was watching the birds from her win
dow and called to us to see what she
thought was beautiful goldfinch. My
wife realized from its size that 1t was
not goldfnch and decided that it must
be some type of grosbeak because Of its
gross beak. There were six of them in
the dogwood trees within IL feet of the
window so we could observe them very
carefully. Two or three, apparently
males, were more highly colored than
the others, with bright yellow bodies and
black wings which reminded me of the
tanager. There was also some white on
them. They did not seem to mind us
but MIR. Mocker soon appeared and
ordered them to move on. We consulted
our bird book and were surprised to
learn that they were evening grosbeaks
which belong in Western Canada and
the United States, rarely coming as far
east as the Mississippi. We were won
dering how this little band of six
reached Arlington?
Very truly yours, w. L. H."
Evening grosbeaks have been reported
In this vicinity for the past month.
A small band was seen in Bethesda,
Nd, a year ago.
They are more common in the in
terror districts OF the United States east
Of the Rockies; north, In winter, to the
Saskatchewan; south, in winter. irregu-
larly, to Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Ken
tucky, Ohio, ETC.; eastward, irregularly,
and in winter only, to New York and
New England.
1t may be realized, then, that this Is
rare species for our territory.
The first ones ever seen in New York
City, in 1911, created sensation. They
were seen again in numbers there in
1916.
Scarcity Of certain foods Is believed
the reason for their invasion Of areas
where they are not often seen.
This beautiful bird Is particularly
fond of frozen apple seeds.
This is a tip for those who want to
try to attract the American hawfinch," !"
as he has sometimes been called. He is
also known as the sugar bird, but more
properly might be called the salt bird,
since he is said to eat salt freely.
No one need be alarmed because salt
may be put out for the grosbeaks. Other
birds seldom touch 1t. AS for feeding
salted peanuts, in small amounts they
are not harmful, but the salt Is best
washed of them if they are used in any
quantity.
Oats are about the only food of the
type which the evening grosbeak will
touch, and then only II he can get moth
ing else.
He prefers, in addition to his apple
seeds, the buds of naples, elders, box
elders and ash, and also the fruit OF
the sumac.
He also loves sunf1ower seed.
The complete utilization of many
|. foods in the war effort probably left lit-
tie for these birds In winter, hence
their restless migration to parts of the
country where they normally are little
seen.
The home gardener, hearing Of eve
ming grosbeaks in his vicinity, may wish
to try to attract them. To do 80 he
should put out plenty Of sunflower seed
perhaps little salt, and few oats.
These birds love the dried berries Of
| the various bushes, and feast on what
Is left on the dogwoods. But the mock
ingbird usually has been there before
| them and stripped the trees.
| The nest of the .grosbeak Is q saucer.
shaped affair, placed from Is to *
feet high in confer. The eggs, three
or four in number. are green blotchet
| with brown.
| The band seen in Bethesda In tn,
winter of 1914 consisted Of about 81
birds. and was to be seen there for two
weeks.
The householder kept himself bus,
scouting all over washington and vi.
cinity to find sunnower seeds for thest
birds. since there was great scarcit,
| Of those seeds ct that time.