Evening star., 1946-04-06
This and That
By Charles E. TraceueU.
"TAKOMA PARK Nj


Dear Sir:
so thrilling an event as seeing
olueblrd for the first time in NV adult
life prompts me, long an interested
reaoer OF your column, to write YOU a
note' Ihe bresth-taking experience oc-
CURED on the last day of February when
MY sister, who was visiting me. and
were watching the birds from a window
which overlooks the woods along sligo
Greek. The flash of blue caught our
eyes ana we saw at once it was not a
Jay put real bluebird, with rosy breast
AS told my sister, this was the first
time that I had ever seen a bluebird in
the Silver Spring -Takoma Park area
during slx-and-a-half- years residence
IN thls Secuon. 1t is my impression
that the bluebird has been a most in
frequent visitor to these two suburban
sections of Washington. Am l correct?
can only say that I, an ardent bird
watcher, had never seen one before. I
am hopeful that they may be nesting in
our section, for I saw another one only
uay before Yesterday in the same general
area. 1t being spied by my 7-vear-old
son who was also thrilled with seeing
his first bluebrd
"As child, I lived in the mountains
of Southern West Virginia. and knew
the bluebird and many others, but. as
stated above, 1 have never seen one since
until February.
The bluebird is apparently seen in
the Chlllum section, however, a mile
ana half closer to the city than we
are, Tor school teacher has reported
seeing them in that area.
hoy
olrd on the list as visitors at a window
1eedlng station or a 'suet tree during
the winter, it puzzles me that the doves.
common III Silver Spring, are never seen
IN thls area along the creek, a mile
away
Very sincerely yours, J.D.J.D."
The bluebird unfortunately is no
longer what may be called a frequent
visitor In many sections.
AS stated here before, few of them
nave visited some areas in Chevy Chase.
Md. in recent years, although there was
a time when that whole territory was
regarded as having the greatest bird
population in the entire United States.
Blueblrds are sensitive to many fac
tors, some of which do not worry other
species in the least. They are more easily
driven away by larger and more bel
lgerent birds. Even the English SPAR
rows worry the bluebird, often driving
1t away from chosen nesting site
This is done by persistence. The
gentle bluebird finds one sparrow in
its house, drives it out, comes back to
ind another in it, and SO on, and so on,
sparrow after sparrow.
IL all adds up to too much. if you are
a bluebird. The lovely creature says, in
its way, This is too much" and flies
away to- the woods
Contrary to popular opinion, this
species likes to nest low So If under
brush is cut down, as so often Is done.
both in development and in the name of
community neatness, these beautiful
birds are likely to stay away.
They like saplings and only continu-
Gus replanting can keep bluebirds happy.
Thus it will be found that between sins
o1 omission and commission, mankind
does its best to drive these gentle friends
afar. True friends of man they are, too,
in every way. Their beauty not only
helps every decent aesthetic sense, but
their presence accounts for the destruc-
ton of thousands of inimical insects.
AS for the doves, they come and go as
they please, but just on what lines they
operate, and for what reasons. must re-
main mystery. In our own yard one
winter We will have six, and the next
only two, and maybe the next not one.
Doves are wise. Being shot at often,
they tend to come to more settled COM
munities, where there is little likelihood
of being killed.
1t may be that they do not come to
communities which are too near to wide
open fields where their Staying at cer-
tain times of year is permitted.
The dove Is homebody It prefers a
settled community. But an open field
which has certain food it likes is always
an attraction, sort of attractive
nuisance" as the law callsit. Perhaps
these wise birds do not trust themselves
too near such places, knowing the un-
wisdom Of the appetite.