Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-30
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceDeU,
ARLINGTON, Va

AItLlN1 1oN, va.
Dear Sir:
Between Edison and Emerson streets
lies broad stretch from Eighth to Fifth
north, OF flne gardens, trees and shrubs,
over which one evening recently between
and pm. there flew a strange bird
never seen before, much like a gull in
size and movement, only larger in color.
Il watched it for an hour dive and
rise and sail off, only to return to this
end, repeat and fly to the other end.
Its movements were SO swift while near
the porch where I was sitting I could
not get any definite marks I have not
seen it since
The bob-whites have been missed this
past week, where some days their clear
call sounded almost in the doorway.
"Cowbirds, If they are such, have dis
placed the starlings, to whom they bear
strong resemblance as they walk about
the lawn, though different in color.
They are newcomers.
The two baths, kept clean and filled,
have paid wonderful dividends by the
birds Kidding us of beetles and bugs,
while our neighbors on both sides have
been sufferers, indeed.
Last week I gave the birds ground
bread, meat scraps and fat, as wild bird
seed Is of the market out here.
How I wish knew the names Of all
of the birds that visit, but they visit.
and that's the best of all.
Cordially E. e. H."
Our correspondents evening bird
might have been a bullbat, or night
hawk, but that would have been too
small. Note that we say might"
Since our recent miss on bullbats, we
are careful of them.
NlghthawkS are not to be tampered
with; they are marvellous flyers, ana as
fine as they come, doing wonderful serv-
Ice for mankind. The bird probably was
laughing gull
AS for the walking birds, they might
have been female cowbirds, or baby
starlings. Both the lady cowbirds and
the young starlings have sort of gray
ish hue, and both are walkers
The male cowbird is the only black
bird with brown head.
Two things in the above letter strike
us. One is the good word as to the
drawing power Of a well-kept and we'll
filled bird bath.
Too often well meaning persons fail
to keep the bath either clean or filled
Especially in the hot summer this is
necessary, If the birds are to be helped
the most.
The other matter which struck us was
the sentence, How I wish I knew the
names of all Of the birds that visit, but
they visit, and that's the best of all"
1t really makes no difference, those
names, even though it must be admitted
of course, that it is nice to know them
but all too often the ambitious suburban
dweller-let us say the new suburban
dweller-positively makes himself I'M
happy because he does not know what
bird is that?"
After ALL what difference does it make?
The bird is just the same, just as beauti-
full, just as active, just as interesting
| and above all, just as helpful in its
| consumption of insects inimical to man.
kind
The surest way to enjoy bird watching
is to concentrate on this understand
ing, rather than to worry over the pos
sible name of the creatures
Names, at times, are nuisances. Posi-
bly, every one, at some time or other
has wondered over his own name.
1t is good to have name, and better
to keep it clean and good, but the natural
creatures of earth, sky and water, know
no need for names; and perhaps they are
right, after all, since the being. rather
than the naming is the main thing in
| life. Being calls for action, an action
is more than a name. 1t is the complex
| of far reaching and marvellous changes
| chemical in nature, but buttressed by
an underlying something whose very
name, in better ages than this. was
| spoken With ave.