Evening star., 1946-02-08
This and That
By Charles Z. Traceuell.
"WIIL1AMs1rrRc o.


I'VE are great admirers of your COL
umn. In fact, my sequence In reading
The Star is: /, page /; 2, your column.
Il read your column in today's Star
while on the train. leaving Washington
on one OF my regular trips. This column
gave me good excuse for writing, first
to compliment you on the excellence of
the column from day to day, and second
to comment on the bluebird situation in
Chevy Chase, Md.
I'VE have been in that area for nine
years, four just west Of Connecticut ave-
nue. near the East-West highway, and
nve IN our present home in Rollingwood,
We have had feeders at both places.
In the first location we never saw q blue
bird. On the contrary, in Rollingwood
we see them frequently and at all sea-
sons.
"A never-to-be-forgotten sight was
three bluebirds perched on the top of
the food hatch Of our feeder one snowy
morning. And the feeder was Just 6
inches away from our dining room win
dow.
while not common, bluebirds have
been in our neighborhood rather regu-
larly. One pair nested this summer Just
two doors away. Last fall I spent an
hour in a lawn chair watching a male
bluebird give the berries on a small dog
wood tree in our yard thorough going
over.
And today, while driving to the sta
ton, saw six bluebirds in the block of
East Leland street between Rollingwood
drive and Summit avenue.
II you have seen but one pair In 16
years, you must be in the wrong part of
Chevy Chase for bluebirds.
I'VE have all Of your other bird and
animal friends, including one bob-tailed
squirrel which used to amuse himself bv
knocking his friends of a swinging
feeder. He couldn't balance himself on
1t because Of lack of tail. The friends
chased him away each time, and he
stayed away only until they got back.
Then he would get on the end of the
branch and shake it until they fell of
the feeder again.
Again, many thanks for an interest,"
ing, well-written column.
Very truly yours, B. L. W."
y X
This letter shows not only what Diff
ference few miles may make, when it
comes to birds, but also how bluebirds
are unevenly distributed.
1t must not be forgotten, Of course,
that our correspondents home location
was just rolling woodland until a few
years ago, while our block has been more
or less like it is now for at least 16 years
to our knowledge.
Yet bluebirdS are not really afraid,
though peaceful creatures, and the fact
that they come to some locations and
not to others must remain more or less
mystery, as many factors in bird life
are.
The "bluebird belt" in the Washington
area extends across Wesley Heights east
ward. In that area perhaps as many
as 200 bluebirds spend the winter.
Yet one of our readers south of us a
mile or so on Military road has them
every winter, too
Xxx
"KENsINGToN, Md.
Dear Sir:
"We have an unidentified bird that
made its appearance several days ago.
We noticed it just at the break of day
at the feeding station. It would arrive
at the same time every morning. Now
1t comes in the daytime. It is from 8
to II inches In length, upper part of
the body is dark gray, also the head;
the underbody is a light gray or dirty
white.
ut has white feathers in wings and
tail. It is not crossbill We observed
him closely Sunday. We thought he
might be catbird, but the description
in our encyclopedias does not mention
white tail feathers or in the wings.
To-day he chased the cardinal and
the bluejay away from the feeding sta
ton. This amazed us only mildly, but
when We saw him chase the starlings
We really sat up and took notice. Can
you tell us what kind of bird this is?
Sincerely, L. A. W."
This fellow is, Of course, the mocking-
bird. A few Of them remain in the
Washington area every winter. The
white In the tail feathers shows only
when the bird flies. It is sure identi-
fication. The species does not like star
lings and chases them at every oppor-
| tanity.