Evening star., 1946-08-03
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. TrncemeU
DARLINGTON, Va

Dear Sir.
Your column in The Evening Star
has been enjoyed by my wife and me
for quite awhile, from which we have
acquired knowledge of the wild life
about us to supplement our own obser-
Vatlons from feeding the birds winter
and summer for several years.
About two weeks ago a robins nest
1ell or was blown. from a tree near orr
nome, which resulted in the death of
two baby robins, with one surviving
Adoption being inevitable we have had
the one that survived these two weeks
and 1t has thrived wonderfully on diet
OF small pieces of beef, raisins and mois-
tened bread.
The time for its release is drawing
near, and we are wondering if the in
stlncts provided by nature will guide the
little fellow in becoming acquainted
with the habits of a wild bird. am
sure the parent birds are still around.
Do you think they might recognize their
offspring?
To our feeding station, where numer-
Gus species of birds feed has been added
pair OF chipmunks COR ground souir-
rels). They are beautiful little animals,
and as far as We can determine they do
no damage, but seem to enjoy sunflower
seeds, so we get a great deal of pleasure
watching them.
Very truly yours, v. L. r."
*
ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
The robins have had a highly sue
cessful and prosperous season. The
housing and food situation presented no
great problems. Every nest, some new
some old, was occupied They found
plenty OF earthWorms in the lawn be-
meath the trees.
For bathing, we installed a new bird
path, which was enthusiastically taken
over at once by all the feathered popu-
lation.
Between the flowers and the screened
back porch is stretch of lawn, an ideal
place for dropping crumbs and occa-
sional leftovers from the table
When this happens, all the birds seem
10 be somewhere around watching. for.
here they come, and soon the grass is
full of them.
This patch of lawn does much better
than the old feeding station, which was
on the trunk of one of the oaks
We used to wonder what became of
our small friends in the rain. At last
we have stopped worrying about them.
1t was this way. One afternoon during
hard downpour. we saw a fine robin
flying through the rain
He alighted on the bird bath. Then,
of ali things during all that downpour,
Mr.. Red Breast dived in. and INDUCED
in soul-satisfying plunge, scattering
splashes in all directions. He seemed to
be saying, Let it rain-who cares?'
Sincerely. G. D. B."
\ n
It is a pleasure to know that the Ar
llngton robins are leading such happy
lives
Robins know how to live.
All OF us, in these hectic days, days of
Ill will and disputation the world around,
might watch the birds with profit.
Among the feathered folk, none knows
better how to take life as it comes than
our old friends the robins.
Specimens which are brought up by
hand should be kept full month, with
many trips into the garden, where the
bird may be released for little time, to
acquaint itself with the nature in which
it must live
Put the young bird on the ground. and
allow 1t to peck around for its supper.
In this way it becomes acquainted with
what it must do. Put down small bits
of its accustomed foods, and be sure
few worms and beetles are present.
The ground Is favorite feeding place
for all species except those which catch
their food in the air. A select piece of
lawn, always the same, attracts the rob-
ins, catbirds. thrushes, mockingbirds
and many others, especially If raisins
are sprinkled around.
No amount of rain can take the place
OF the bird bath. Rain, as such, Is
something OF nuisance to the birds,
just as 1t 1t to humans, but the formal
shallow bath gives them opportunity to
bathe and drink at their ease, rain or
no rain, provided 1t Is kept filled.