Evening star., 1946-04-24
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeH.
OAK STREET.

Dear Sir:
In a recent article you mentioned
the resemblance of the indigo bunting
In color to the paper wrapped around
absorbent cotton.
THAT led me to hunt up roll Of the
cotton, and while handling it the
thought occurred to me that the cotton
ought to make good lining for a nest.
The obvious thing to do was to ask
the birds about it.
80 I fluffed up a bunch OF 1t into
. loose ball and put 1t out.
The answer was a prompt and en-
phatic yes They seemed to me to be
quite excited about It, 1t was fun to
watch them struggle to pack aboard the
biggest load possible and then Just a
little more and dart away with big
wad of 1t sticking out of their bills.
1T is my impression the birds have
difnculty finding not only enough food
and drinking water, but also materials
for their nests
II feed the birds once a day. In the
afternoon, at this season about 430
o'clock, and keep them supplied with
drinking water the year around
They have an accurate sense Of
time. They know when their eats are
due. They make much of their water
pan. 1t is frequented gayly all day
long, and the quantity Of water dis
posed Of In winter as we'll as in summer
is surprising.
lne water pan requires continued
care, however. 1t needs to be thor
oughly flushed and ref1lled twice q day.
Sincerely, S. E. B.'
Absorbent cotton makes excellent
nesting material for certain birds.
The fluff from vacuum cleaner bags
also is appreciated
Small bits of these two materials NAV
be placed in shrubbery, lilacs and the
like, where they can be found easiiy.
Without them the birds have to Sc
cure the down of the dandelion. or
other fine materials from nature.
1t may be realized that a wad of
cotton or fluff is real help.
Small lengths of cord are desirable,
but care must be taken that no bit is
longer than 3 or inches.
The common practice Of hanging
long lengths of wool or other material
from tree branches sometimes results In
the hanging of some mother bird.
Long lengths are too much for bird
to handle, and she in time becomes
hopelessly entwined.
Only last season photograph was
printed OF a Washington robin hanging
by her neck from limb It was not
pretty picture, and all bird lovers
should resolve that they will make GER
tain that they do not add to the natural
hazards Of life in this way.
So keep lengths of wool very short If
you put them out.
Fine grasses weeds and other vege-
table materials, including moss, make
fine nest Innings.
Even pieces of brightly colored paper
are utilized. In many cases decoration
is the only possible motive.
Squirrels. too, appreciate help in nest
making.
Birds do, indeed, have a sense of
time. They not only know when they
should be fed. once they realize some
human Is watching out for them, but
they will come to a yard at certain
times each day, and often take regular
turns at warming the nest almost on
a schedule.
We once had band of jays which
came to the yard every morning at 7
o'clock, remained exactly 20 minutes
and then flew away
Food, water, nesting materials-these
can be secured from nature, fortunately
for the birds, but any real help given
them, at any time of year, is appre-
ciated
Even so little as mulching a flower
bed, so that the sparrows may take
dust baths, or putting out few pounds
Of sand for grit, is q help to our bird
population.