Evening star., 1946-04-16
This and That
By Charles E. TruceDeH.
MONTGOMERY AVE

Dear Sir:
Our bluebird came back in February.
AT first we could not be sure 1t was
he because OF his strangness and aloof
behavior.
I'VE recall that he always is strange
and shy upon his return, but as days
become warmer and we are outdoors
more OF the time he becomes tanner.
He hangs around in a nearby tree
as we spade, and waits for a grub to
be tossed his way He comes readily to
the porch railing for raisins.
His less colorful mate Is building her
nest in the bird house mounted on a
lo-foot-high piece Of pipe in the rear
Of the garden.
His attempts to help In the build
Ing do not seem to be too welcome to
her so therefore he sort of maintains
position as that Of guard, and utters
cheerful sounds as she appears with
the wisps Of grass.
BY the time she sets he will be tax
Ing raisins from our hand. He usually
eats one or two and then carries one
up to the nest for her We are reason
ably sure that this is the same bird who
has been here two preceding years.
we have been enjoying your column,
and your recent discussions and letters
about bluebirds prompted me to write
you OF our pleasant guest.
yours truly, w. c. p"
Usually the male bluebird helps his
mate build the nest.
They take turns incubating the eggs.
The female spends more of her time, of
course, at this task, since the male is
often busy driving other bluebirds and
intruders away
Twelve days are necessary for the
incubation
During this time he often brings her
food, and sings to her in the true
and lovely-bluebird warble.
1t seems real love song.
-Four or five eggs are laid, and about
week after they are Matched the
mother cleans out the nest and laws
more.
At this time the male has all the
work Of feeding the young, a problem
he sometimes solves by parking them
in mulberry tree, where they are
tempted to feed themselves and thus
learn valuable lessons as we'll as get
food
Sparrows, wrens and starlings are this
birds worst enemies. OF these. the little
house wren is the worst. for she will
pierce the bluebird eggs with her bill
every chance she gets.
If the parent bluebirds are of the
nest for any extended period, the female
wren will calmly build her own nest
over the eggs, or even over the Matched
bluebirds!
To combat these enemies it is we'll to
put the bluebird house about 6 feet
from the ground, or lower, because
English sparrows do not like to 70 50
low for their nesting.
II the entrance o. the bluebird house
Is made not larger than IA inches in
diameter, the starlings cannot get in
1t Is difficult to do anything about
the wren. She is vixen
Bluebirds molt once, in August. Some
OF them remain in a neighborhood all
winter, but those which migrate 20 to
separate points, each to the place where
1t was. born.
Bluebirds size up neighborhood in
the spring for about week and prefer
ably select place where there are no
dogs or cats, hard place to find nova
days
Flying squirrels are also great enemies
OF this gentle species.
Fortunately that is no special problem
hereabouts, where there are not so many
OF these unusual rodents.
Any household which has a bluebird
family in the garden must be con-
graduated.
All In all, they are not as tender as
some persons think, but are well able to
take care Of themselves, In most cases,