Evening star., 1946-03-07
This and That
By Charles E. Traceuell.

Ola cEN n S1REEI,
Dear Sir:
Your most interesting and educa-
tional column in The Washington Eve
ming Star has attracted my attention
ever since I came to Washington a few
years ago. have always been interested
IN birds, but have never been really
bird conscious until reading your column.
I never fail to read 1t, even though
do not find time for the rest of the
paper. I am so afraid will miss some
thing!
Il live on the fourth floor of large
apartment building and have watched
the birds from my bedroom windows,
which overlook small garden, some
shrubs and few small trees.
There has been one pair of cardinals,
a mockingbird Il have never seen more
than one), starlings, juncos the year
around, ever since I have been here.
I have tried feeding them on the
window sill, but have not been able
to attract them. Recently I have been
putting bread crumbs and raisins on
the ground for them, and have tried
suet in the crotch of tree.
"At first the birds seemed afraid to
go near the suet, but finally tried it
after a cat had gotten some of it.
The mockingbird was afraid to 20
near the crumbs while the starlings were
there, but the second time I put them
out had only gone a short distance
when he started the worst scolding noise,
finging the crumbs around with his
bill, but eating very little.
He chased all of the birds for a
couple of days, but finally let them have
some food. I am very proud of the
mockingbird and can hardly wait for
him to start his spring song.
THE redbird sings every morning Just
after daybreak, and I never cease to get
thrill out of his clear, sweet call. He
and his misSus' do not eat the crumbs,
but seem to find some food Just under
the rosebushes.
My sister has small house on about
a 100-foot lot in nearby MARYLAND
She wants to know what kind of bird
houses to put up in the trees and how
many should be put in that size lot.
Tl.cre are a number of shade trees and
some evergreens.
Sincerely, D. j. MacI"
For the average home lot two bird
uouScS are euOuBu.
Perhaps the best are for the bluebird
and the wren.
Both of these houses can be purchased
IN many drug and other stores
They need not go into trees, but may
be hung In shrubbery. or put on posts.
Some experts claim that the bluebird
house is best placed about 4 feet high
on fence post. This position causes
worry to most householders, as they
think it is too low, but the birds them
selves seem to like it.
Success with the wren house is often
at its peak when the contraption is
simply hung in stout shrub, with the
bottom of the box about or feet from
the ground.
Both houses, of course, may be put
in tree. The bluebird houses are best
nailed to the trunk, about to 10 feet
high.
The wren house should be suspended
from horizontal branch.
Many persons like to adorn their yards
with birdhouses and put up half dozen
or more on a small place and, If this
pleases them, there is nothing to be said
about it,
1t seldom pleaseS the birds.
Ordinarily they will not nest too close
together, because of the competition for
food for the young The farther they
have to fly afleld, at this time, the more
work for them; the more birds in q
limited territory, the less food each one
manages to bring home to the nestlings.
Birdhouses are best of natural bark
finish, or painted to harmonic with the
outdoors. Thus, dark brown, gray or
green. Implanted wood finally weathers
very nicely. Birdhouses in bright colors,
Puch as red, seldom attract son9ters.