Evening star., 1946-07-17
This and That
By Charles E. Trdceyel.


IT remain outdoors until dark writes
Virginia correspondent, ito hear the
song of the wood thrush, and can
think of nothing more in keeping with
midsummer than the song of the whip
poorwill.
There are many songs" this writer
adds. which I do not hear because
of my deafness, but for these few I
am grateful"
Fortunately for all of us, most bird
songs are loud enough.
The wood thrush. as II knowing he
has an unusually well constructed mel
ody fairly shouts 1t from the trees.
but the quality is such that it never
seems too loud, even when only a few
feet away
This correspondent probably misses the
various and assorted noises which the
thrush puts IN between the triolets.
At first these odd sounds seem out of
place, but after one has heard them
for some time they strike the ear as
proper. They belong. in other words.
Most bird songs are loud, or at least
loud enough for all practical purposes.
The few soft singers must be heard
need no megaphones.
The amount of volume, the sheer
carrying power. out of such small
throats, will strike the unprejudiced
listener as marvellous.
1t is one thing for a coloratura So
prano, weighing, let us say, 160 pounds,
to fairly split the air with a high note,
but how about the cardinal, whose
fsrh ot Dt.
or two?
Even the tiny wren bubbles his song
at you with vim and vigor, veritable
cascade of sounds, tumbling ever each
other on the way to extinction.
This column has among its valued
readers some who are blind and see
with the aid of others, and many who
ares deaf. Some of the latter use
hearing aids, and say that these help
them to hear bird songs, too.
Perhaps many songs could be heard
even by those hard of hearing, songs
which may be missed at present if
care were taken to concentrate espe-
c-ally on the hearing of such sounds
This concentration is mostly mental,
but also physical in that for the time
being other sounds are not listened to
as in ordinary times. 1t is always an
amusing thing to stop for few minutes
and just listen to and name the various
sounds one hears but is not alWays
conscious of; an amazing list comes to
mind as sounds are licked off on the
fingers. Often it is possible to count
up to so or more different sounds
whereas one may not be conscious
before taking thought, of hearing more
than two or three. These, of course,
are the loudest and most persistent
noises. 1t is always possible to count
more by listening carefully, with the
mind on the job.
BY careful listening, it is easy to
hear few more bird songs. A good
time is at dawn. There is a minimum
OF sounds at that time, so that ordi-
nar1ly the birds have the air all to
themselves, especially since the milk
men and their changing bottles no
longer are on the streets at such an
hour.
The birds have it all TO themselves
and what beautiful noise they make,
singing their very hearts out in their
delight at the gift of another day.
We should all take cheer from the
birds, and join, if possible, in the morn
ing serenade. Most persons will not
be able to sing, actually, at dawn, but
they at least may take joy in listening
to the birds, and mentally join them
Dusk is one of the best times to
listen to birds. Some still sing. and
others chirp softly to themselves. Above
them all the mockingbird pours out
his amazing assortment, full of life,
sparkle and good humor. This has
been one Of the best mockingbird sum-
mers for long time. We have had
an unusual number of reports of ALL
night singing. In our own yard is
nocker which. sings necessarily day
and night. How his throat stands IL
is mystery In nature, and q tribute
to the God who made him.