Evening star., 1946-04-19
This and That
By Charles E. TraceDell.

EnCLfS PLACE.
Dear Sir:
THE other night noticed in This
and That letter asking why robin
insists upon flying against q pane of
glass in. April
The explanation given no doubt sat-
isfied the inquirer, but there is a much
more important reason which he failed
to explain.
Robins don't fight in April because
1t is fighting time and there is only
one real reason why they fly at their
reflection.
I'm April the robin is looking for a
nesting place, and having found a good
one she wants to make sure there is no
other bird nesting within special dis
tance from her nesting place.
She sees herself in the glass with
nesting material in her mouth and de-
cides to put a stop to it at once. The
fact that the reflection fights back
means the other bird is as determined
as she is. hence the prolonged effort to
discourage the intruder.
There is seldom more than the voice
OF one robin singing his evening song
to his mates within earshot of another
He sings for his mate and for her alone.
Yours truly, j. E. K"
X
This correspondent mistakes just one
reason for "the" reason.
In blrdland, as has so often been
pointed out, there are almost as manv
observations as there are observers. And
usually there are several reasons,
II one sees male robin fighting his
reflection he is likely to think males
alone fight their reflections.
If he-or she-sees a female robin
he or she may think females alone
indulge in this act.
While it is true that this shadow
boxing" is definitely connected with
nesting it Is usually done by the males
as one naturally might expect, the male
OF the species being what he is. witt
ness World Wars I and I'D
Robins, cardinals and starlinas are
addicted to it, probably because of their
nesting habits.
They often nest on window sills and
such places, and in looking for nesting
site happen to see their reflection and
think it is another robin of the same
sex after the same nesting place.
we nave seen a bluejay fighting his
renectlon In the shiny chromium hub
cap OF prewar automobile.
There is never "only one reason"
among the birds for any act.
The observer must realize, ALWAYS.
that birds, like humans. have a latitude
OF choice before them, in all the acts of
life.
1t will not do to think that Just what
one sees is all there Is. Life is not that
simple, either among birds or men.
In our own yard we have had several
robins fighting windows, and each time
1t was male.
The female, presumably, was too busy
building the nest or taking care of the
babies.
The male found himself with nothing
much to do, so he spent his time look
ing around for enemies.
This comes about because q certain
territory Is regarded by each pair of
olrds as their own. Too many nesters
side by side, although 1t sometimes
occurs, Is not the bird ideal. The COM
petition for baby food is too keen, since
all species use insects for food for their
f1edglings.
This correspondent is also too limited
In her view Of robin singing Robins
are such lusty birds that 1t almost al
ways is possible to hear several birds
singing at once. A robin, at least in
the suburbs where it is quiet, can be
heard for two blocks. Nor does robin
sing simply for his mate and for her
alone" This is pretty theory, but
1t simply won't wash, as the saying has
it. Modern robins say "tosh" to such
sentimentalities. The truth is that rob-
ins sing, as most living things do, be-
| cause they like to sing.