Evening star., 1946-04-17
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceDell.
SILVER SPRING, Md


Dear Sir:
IT have been a reader of your very
enjoyable column for the past several
years. When one considers the pressing
issues Of the day, 1t Is indeed pleasure
to turn to your daily article with its
nerve sedative' influence and compare
the methods used by humans in resolv-
ing their man-made problems with the
ones used by our tiny neighbors in re-
solving their bird problems.
II have noticed recently the COM
plants Of a number Of your readers
concerning the absence Of bluebirds in
their neighborhoods. This Is a great
surprise to me for out our way have
seen these beautiful little creatures by
the score. A good many OF them re-
mained in the neighborhood all winter
long. Last fall I counted as many as
IA at one time who landed in the rem
nants Of the victory garden and pecked
away at things visible only to the eye
Of bird.
This spring my next door neighbor
erected three bird houses in the rear of
the house. The first two are about 10
feet apart and the last one is about 80
of these houses are of unpretentious
design and were made of scrap pieces
Of plywood. The first two were put in
position first, on top Of fence posts used
to tie in the clothes line, and they hadn't
been there two hours before the blue
birds descended and were busily in
vestigating.
X 4
Zone would perch nearby while the
other would stand on the small front
door stoop' and cock an inquisitive eye
through the opening. A little later, the
bluebird would insert his or her head
in the hole and finally would jump in for
more thorough examination of the
room plan. Apparently, everything was
satisfactory, and the homemaking soon
followed. Those posts are only about
6 feet high and it is possible to peer into
the bird houses and watch what is going
on. I do not do this very often for
fear Of disturbing the occupants.
During the winter I noticed their
plumage was somewhat dowdy, but with
the coming of spring that bright blue
color, which is particularly noticeable
In flight, has returned. The only sing
ing have heard is a rather subdued
chirping which do not find particularly
| melodious.
1--WE do not have a feeding station in
| our yard, and so far as I know, there is
none in the immediate vicinity Why
the bluebirds should pick our immediate
location when we have never made any
concerted effort to attract them is Just
one of those imponderables you so often
mention.
Our home is located along one edge
OF the former Argyle Country Club, and
this may be factor in the year-round
presence of this flock Of bluebirds.
"You mention and discuss the relative
merits of the different types of songs,
but have never seen any statement
concerning the lark. have not heard
the truly beautiful song of this bird in
| years since moving to this area
ITO your knowledge, does the lark
| live this far East? Once last fall
thought heard the call, far away, but
I cannot be certain so do not consider
it as sure evidence.
"Once again let me express my ap-
probation for the highly instructive
i articles appearing under your name.
VERY sincerely yours, D. T."
Three larks come to this section, the
meadow lark, the prairie horned lark
| and the horned lark
The meadow lark (Which may be heard
on the air during the Easter sunrise
service from Colorado) was at one time
a rather common permanent resident
here, but now is mostly found in Potomac
Park.
The horned lark is a rare winter
visitant, leaving here by the last of
February. The prairie horned lark is
an irregular winter visitor.
Meadow larks make beautiful music,
loud, cheerful and singularly filled with
the spirit of the outdoors.
Our own robin is the nearest we come
to hearing this particularly appealing
sort Of song In its full glory.