Evening star., 1946-12-03
This and That
aries z. Trdcewell.
BETHESDA, Md.


Dear Sir:
zone day recently while was seated
at living room window, reading, saw
window screen.
Looking up. saw much 70 my as
constituent that it was q bird.
He clung there with his claws and
peered in at me.
"I had never seen such a little fellow.
He had a sort OF black cap on his head,
and was so very small that could
hardly believe my eyes
Il was afraid to move, in fear OF
soaring him away. He kept looking at
me and ] at him, but soon he let loose
and flew away.
Since had never had an experience
like this before and never seen this
sort of bird, I am writing to you to
ask what it meant and what bird 1t was.
Very truly, II. p. L."
Here is our old friend. the chickadee,
again
Such a performance as this is more
likely to be encountered from a mock
ingbird.
No doubt the chickadee was looking
for food and took this way to remind
the household that more was needed.
This, of course, only If this household
engages in the sport OF bird feeding.
If it does not, there is no telling Just
what the little bird was up to. Perhaps
1t had come from yard where feeding
is carried on and wanted to signal the
people in this house that he would like
some seed there, too.
The chickadee is one Of the great
favorites in winter. Then his bright
personality has less competition. He
makes friends everywhere. There prob
ably is no human being in the world,
far or near, who would not respond to
this mite OF living thing and welcome
him with some show of the gladness
which is his.
Personality Is hard thing to define
In human beings, it usually means
something over and above the normal
run of men and women. People who
have what is called personality often
seem to be plugged into secret
source Of power They have brighter,
faster approach to daily problems.
Often they are the envy Of their more
placid friends.
In the strict animal world, including
the birds, there is certainly personality
to be reckoned with. Often enough 1t
has nothing to do with good or evil. A
cat may be a mean cat and yet have
the admiration of his family, whereas
an affectionate one may be accepted
merely as a part of the daily scene,
Just as if he were chair or table.
In hirdland, those with personalities
are almost impossible to tell, in an
appearance, from the rest of their ilk.
One watcher may be willing to say that
q certain female English sparrow was
the best of all the "a species to come to
his yard, but when another sees 1t, he
cannot understand what makes the
original beholder feel the way he does.
Favorites among the various species
depend so much upon the individual
observer that personality seems quite
row it down and then we find that
chickadees, mockingbirds and cardinals
have the most, according to popular
verdict.
The chickadee often ties with the
tufted titmouse in general acceptance.
No matter how many English spar
rows there are around place, the
chickadees and titmice, as well as the
white -breasted nuthatch, commonly is
present to the extent OF at least half a
dozen Of each species to the suburban
square block.
If this is not always apparent. 1t is
because one does not happen to see the
little birds as they fly in and out, they
are that quick and restless, seldom
stopping any place for more than 2
few seconds at time.
# second small feeding station is
placed in shrubbery by favorite win
dow, the observer will almost always
be rewarded by the sight Of many
cf1ickadees, as well as titmice and
nutnatcheS.
Whether one will be so fortunate as
to have a cheerful chickadee hang onto
the screen is another matter.