Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-23
This and That
By Charles z. Trace,peu.


1t is fortunate for most home owners
that they do not have to become well
acquainted with birds Of prey.
These, including the hawks, owls.
shrikes and buzzards seldom cause much
trouble at feeding station maintained
Tor the smaller songbirds.
Occasionally hawk, and less often
some owl. will fly In, causing consterna-
ton for time.
Usually single furry of this type is
all the owner will have to contend with
for many months.
Neither guard nor study against such
marauders need be maintained, then.
This allows the course of free feeding
to go along easily and comfortably. linn
ited mostly by the amount of food avail
able for the wintering songsters.
Birds Of prey, of course, roughly
grouped, are birds as well as any. but
in the sport of bird feeding they are not
wanted.
Sometimes crows become birds of prey.
Now and then three or four of them viii
gather together and attack some
creature, even squirrels.
This is not pretty sight.
The blue jay, upon occasion, will put
himself into the killer class. He does
this far less often than some of his de-
tractors claim
Ever since Audubon drew his famous
drawing of jay with dripping egg
Of some other species-in his claws, there
has been sort of fashion set in talk
against this fine bird.
The fortunate householder, interested
in the native wildlife that comes to his
yard, will never see jay harm another
bird
Mostly the fellow confines himself to
Glowing, bending his knees" and let
ting out that famous squawk of his.
He is, in the everyday life, far too busy
with his own conceits to bother much
with other birds.
The grackle. at times, puts himself in
the rough classification of birds of prey,
but in the main he does not deserve it.
because he does not seem to be after
food. but merely qualification of an evil
instinct for killing.
At times band of these birds may
cause more trouble at feeding place
than hawk might do, for they are
powerful and persistent. They will tear
OH the legs and heads of small birds just
for the fun of it.
The shrike is not plentiful in this
vicinity. Mostly he catches mice and i'm
pales them on thorns. Now and then he
takes songbird
He is one that seldom menaces a feed
ing station.
Chipmunks at times take baby birds,
as do cats-and dogs. Human beings
also take toll. The desire to hurt and
kill is not confined to any one level in
the ladder of life. It is a fairly we'll dis
tributed attribute of living things.
Only the other day we were talking
to q man who haG just moved to the
still wild part Of the suburbs.
A rough and ready fellow, himself, he
already had sensed the deep pleasure
and contentment the wild things were
bringing him.
He was very indignant when the first
thing friend said to him was, Have
you any squirrels? will bring my rifle
out and shoot them for YOU"
Not my squirrels replied the owner.
How about birds?' went on the other,
ohtusely. Il like to shoot BIRDS
Not my Birds" was the reply, with
gathering heat
So the term birds of prey" is pretty
wide one. Even some of the two-legged
ones may not wear feathers!
II you establish home bird feeding
station this fall, do not worry too much
about hawks, etc.
You viii see them, when they come.