Evening star., 1946-07-23
This and That
By Charles Z. TraceDeH.
ARLINGTON, Va.

we ENJOY your column so much Since
placing feeder in our kitchen window.
about Is varieties of our Gathered
friends come to our back yard.
Tnls spring pair Of cardinals built
4 nest in the wisreria It was discoy-
cred the other evening that the nest ha d
broken and part Of it lay on the ground.
At hrst 1t was thought that their off,
spring had flown from the nest, but
upon close scrutiny OF the ground un-
dernesth the vine, two baby cardinals
were found
The parent birds were very excited
chatting TO each other, and staying close
to the wisteris.
The problem of mendins the nest and
getting the family together again pre-
sented ITSELF A small bowl-shaped sieve
with long handle was retrieved from
the cellar. and the broken nest placed
m the sieve with 4 handful Of straw to
raise 1t. and the little birds were placed
in the sieve, which was tied to the wis
teris in the same place.
The parents ceased chatting when
their home had been assembled. They
were little hesitant about getting into
the new nest, but soon settled into 1t.
Any suggestions that you may have
as to how q nest might be constructed
nurriedly will be appreciated.
Very truly yours. L. L. B."
This correspondent seems to have done
very good job Of it. The main thing is
to induce the parent birds to return to
their offspring. 1t is always much better
this way tf1an to try bringing the birds
up by hand"
A berry or other box makes very
good substitute nest. and 1t may be
padded with facial tissues, il no more
suitable material presents itself.
II 1t is impossible to put the nest back
in the original site. care should be taken
to place it as near to the old place as
possible.
Often q crotch is suitable.
It is necessary to lash the substitute
nest tirnly. This is very importsnt, be-
cause any movement OF the nest when
tho parent birds fly in will send them out
again
II . very light colored or white box is
used. 1t Is best to cover it with colored
paper. since birds rs rule shy away
from white objects.
There are very few white nests.
4 k*
"GEoRGETowN.
Dear Sir:
Like so many others who enjoy your
wholesome column, I've been going to
tell YOU so this long time.
Il have only been in the District for
10 years, have had no yard, depend upon
window sills and very small space
round = tree on the sidewalk where ]
"a fAa .,
friends tsnd my only neighbors,. g.;
"T have only the sparrows and
grackles. but early this season was de-
lighted to have pair Of robins visit me,
and recently one morning very early
1 spied pair OF bluebirds at their
breakfast
Il buy q small loaf when I can get
it,. use the dark, and give most of the
white with which mix cut up rsisins}
TO the birds. IT fail to put it out at
night. they persist until appear in the
morning
1T il really pleasure to think they
are calling me, and they sre. A day or
so sso person who resides imuedia tely
opposite, nut who has never offered to
bid the time or be a neiehbor, watched
me putting the food about the tree box
AOd up lIUul Iis StCkS-OSllDcTdCcJy
came across the street-carefuHy exam
ined what, 1t was had thrown on the
sidewalk. and turned a black, hard look
ut my window. All this in the attitude
Of ri see what it is that's being thrown
In the street. and report 1T
1T made me SO nervous II has almost
ruined the happiness get from cater
ing to these little bodies in very linn
tied space. Why are beings like that?
Among nations it contributes to war
and until the end Of time it will be
ever thus =
Thank you for the cheer your words
spread.
Sincerely yours, l.. B. r."
x y
Feeding the birds is a sport utterly
unknown to some persons, and maybe
the watcher; across the street really
wanted to see just what 1T was all about.
Let us hope that in time he will join
in the fun and help the Georgetown
birds with little more food. Hungry
birds seldom leave anything edible, 50
ma one cen claim that bird feeding is
messy.