Evening star., 1946-05-20
This and That
By Charles Z. TrdceueU.

AnL1NGION, Va.
There has been a tragedy in bird
land mere that has so surprised and
shocked us that we would not believe
1t had it not been seen by several per-
sons.
We considered ourselves very much
blessed when pair of bluebirds
rented house only few feet from
the back porch. But as soon as the
babies were Matched they had to con-
tinually drive away the blue jays.
After they had grown to half size
the jays succeeded in dragging one blue
bird baby after the other from the
house and flying away with them.
1T Is pitiful sight to see the two
looking into their empty house and
trying to console one another.
There was nothing we could do We
had no idea the blue jay was so mean
There was no excuse, as there was
plenty of the food he likes placed out
where he could easily get it.
Yours truly, L. T.
"PS.-The entrance to the house was
l3s inches, about Az inches from top"
\
This is the other side of the blue iay
picture. Personally, we have never seen
such an incident as this, but know that
others have.
1t Is too bad, but it is nature. Think
OF all mankind's wars, and then do not
think too badly of the blue jay.
The greater the depth from the bot
tom of the bluebird house entrance to
the floor, the less chance there is for
predatory birds to reach in and seize
baby birds.
The usual dimensions for bluebird
house are as follows: Floor, by 5
inches; depth, inches; diameter of
entrance hole. II inches; height of
bottom of hole above fioor 8 inches
and height Of the box from ground, 4
to 10 feet.
CHEVY CHASE, Nd.
Dear Sir:
L want to express my appreciation
OF your column in The Evening Star.
Since moving to Chevy Chase five years
ago I've learned more about birds than
I've ever known in my life. We do have
so many varieties out here and I al
ways learn something new about them
from you.
I'm writing to ask about three birds
which are new to me. They have been
around for almost q month. One is like
the song sparrow, except its head on
top is reddish, with black stripe and
little white under it.
The second bird is a little larger, but
a very pinkish wine Ito express it,.
THE third bird is as large as a
mockingbird. purple-blue, brown cap,
black bill, and the female is the color
of the mockingbird.
I have tried several of your cor
respondents methods in tanning the
birds and squirrels, and within a year
1 have a squirrel, by name Piggy as
She never knows when she has enough
and crawls all over one for more food,
which follows us around like kitten in
the yard; a mockingbird, robin and
cardinal which come to the window sill
every day for raisins.
L wish every one might have a pine
tree in their yard, as we have eight of
the small variety of birds which come
to ours every day for the pine seeds.
A flock OF goldf1nches come every day
and they are a beautiful sight in the
tree.
We have a mockingbird who has
been singing every night for almost two
weeks. I had occasion to be up night
before last for three times, at IL mid
night, at 2 and at 4, and all three
times it was singing beautifully. I have
seen every bird take bath in the bird
bath except the mockingbird. Why is
that? Thanking you again for your
column and its inspiration, am,
VERY truly yours, o. L. r."
4 Il
The frst bird is the chipping sparrow,
the second is the purple finch, and the
third Is the cowbird, male and female.
Mockingbirds are shy bathers, and
must be watched closely to be caught
In the act.