Evening star., 1946-06-04
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUelI.
"MUNSEY BUILDING.

Dear Sir:
Our home In Seminar, Hill, Alex
andria, Is on an acre lot rrounded on
four sides by pine woods. When we
moved in last October, I found that the
previous owner had put up some nesting
boxes, one being metal newspaper tube.
About three weeks ago, a pair of
crested hycatchers came to the nesting
place. Some 10 days later, my wife re-
ported tragedy, as she thought. She
had observed terrific battle between
the nesting pair and flicker.
THE affair had ended In the woods,
and she felt sure the flicker had killed
one of the flycatchers. Knowing a little
OF the habits of the clan Ohaving often
seen their kingbird cousins attacking
hawks and ospreys). remained opti-
mistic as to results, but it was a day or
two before saw the hycatchers at the
nest again, apparently unharmed.
"A day or two ago, the flicker appeared
again. He was working quietly on the
lawn, but I knew that trouble would
soon begin. Within few minutes, the
hycatcher started series of beautifully
executed dive bombing attacks on the
unsuspecting flicker.
"old Red decided to get out of there,
but he was knocked down on the ground
three times by his much smaller but
far more agile opponent before he man
aged to get across the road and unto
the safety Of the thicket Poor devil, he
was only minding his own business and
was all too obviously bewildered by the
sudden and furious attack.
However, the tyrants must have de-
cided to seek better home. I have
seen them only once at the nest since
then. One of them sat for several
minutes at the mouth of the tube, hold
ing large feather (probably of flicker
origin) which it had just pulled out of
the nest, turning if from side to side.
and surveying the scene with apparent
triumph. But they have not come back.
although still in the neighborhood.
The nest, so far as can be seen with
out disturbing it, is full of feathers,
flicker and otherwise, as well as several
heavy tufts Of rabbit hair. Later plan
to examine 1t in detail. as this species
is said to have the invariable but curious
habit OF including cast snake skin in
its nest, and should like to check this
for myself
wherever the pair have gone, am
sure they will ably protect themselves
against all enemies. real or fancied.
Il have identified just Al species of
birds In my yard and the surrounding
woods to date. These include q hermit
thrush, seen quite near the house last
fall and again early this spring, but not
recently, though the wood thrush Is now
a common visitor.
Our feeding station had been main
tanned continuously, and my presence
there is now enough to bring out several
hungry birds. Their tameness has in
creased noticeably, although few are as
fearless as a kinglet who stayed with us
a week or two at Christmas time; he
all but came to my hand.
The towhee is one species which I
do not recall seeing mentioned in your
column, but he deserves a place. We
have seen several near us, and confess
they are very nearly my favorites. For
trimness of line and good manners, the
towhees are hard to beat.
MY family are somewhat inclined to-
ward amusement at my bird watching
activities, but once having acquired this
interest one does not give it up readily.
And a laugh or two, not unkind, bothers
me not at all. Without sense of humor
and a little give and take, most pleasures
would soon lose their flavor,
VERY truly yours. H. B. c."
X X
This good bird watcher does well to
salute the flycatchers and the towhees,
both wonderful songsters.
The towhee, in particular, is a favorite
Of this column, where many thousands
OF words over many years have testified
to his merits. 1t is impossible to write
about him every day.
The male, in particular, is beauty
and makes a fine sight at the winter
feeding station. We would urge this
correspondent to place small feeder
near q window next fall, 50 that the
towhee may become steady visitor.
His clean cut qualities and royal feathers
and colors are seen best close at hand