Evening star., 1946-09-04
This and That
By Charles E. Trncewell.
@ STREET.


Dear Sir:
Il would appreciate it If you would
identify bird for me which I saw in
the park close to the Munitions Build
ing
ut had either brown or black spots
all over with large blob of black on
its breast and touch of red or russet
on the back of the neck.
When it flew I noticed a large
splash of white at the base of the tail,
which, in repose, was covered by the
wings. I have searched in our bird book
but do not find this bird.
This bird was much larger than the
robin, and not at all timid. There
seemed to be several of them, but have
failed to see them since
They were digging in the dirt, peck,
peck, peck, and would turn their heads
almost in the reverse position. 1t was
rather amusing to watch them.
Sincerely, c. K"
This is our old friend the flicker.
He Is regarded by experts as the most
interesting member of the woodpecker
family.
He is the bird with the many names,
such as golden-winged woodpecker, yel-
low-shafted woodpecker, clape, yellow
hammer, high-hole, yarrup, wakeup,
wickup, wicket, yawker, walkup, etc,
according to the section of the country
Most of the names have to do either
with nesting habits or the birds call
He makes the unusual cry, "yarrup,"
or however one chooses to spell it, which
fc in ,h1ir rInor
tions. where the bird does good by eat
ing ants.
The flicker spends more time peck
ing for ants and other insects than at
trees, in more orthodox woodpecker
fashion.
The common name of flicker comes
from the UP and down flight of the
bird.
He ficks along, as it were, hence
flicker.
When he flies, the rightness of the
name golden winged woodpecker be-
comes apparent, but this will not be
true, of course, for the person who does
not sense that he belongs to that group.
He is friendly, liking particularly such
good birds as robins, bluebirds and
wood thrushes.
He takes an interest also in common
spsrrows, SO that those persons who
profess dislike of the English sparrow
should hold their thunder, if bird is
to be judged by the company he keeps.
Cardinals, too. like common sparroWs.
The flicker is one woodpecker who
comes readily to a man-made nesting
box. Houses for the house wren and
bluebird are the two most useful
homes but next come those for the
crested hycatcher and the flicker.
These four sizes appeal to the ma
jority of hole-nesting species.
The flicker house is made accordin'
to the following plan: Floor of box,
by 7 inches; depth of box, 16 to 18 inchc
(that is, high up and DOWN; diamete
of entrance hole or door, 3 inchec
height Of hole above floor, IA to
inches, and height of the box abovt
ground, to 90 feet. This last is up t
the maker. The box is best fastened tt
the trunk of a good sized tree
Let no one who takes up nature stud
permit it to make him narrow. Man
is narrow beast at best, and anything
he undertakes may have this result
unless he is careful, and uses his head
| to teach his heart
The flicker is one of the best ant
eaters He spends much of his time
chasing them in the cracks OF side
walks, In lawns, and In the creyices OF
the bark Of trees If 1t were not for
him and his merry family. we would
be overrun by ants. both fat and sweet
eating typeA