Evening star., 1946-06-29
This andThat
By Charles E. Trace1Dell


Dear Sir:
Like many another subscriber to The
Star. I always read your column and
greatly enjoy the information given and
the comments on local bird life. Nav /
also commend you for the kind words
| you have written on behalf Of Fido and
Pussy, who are not always liked by bird
lovers?
THE letter from M. D. s.. which YOU
quoted. interested me very much for I
had the same problem as this corre-
spondent, but succeeded in greatly re-
ducing the number of clothes line
casualties.
Il fed the birds all last winter. and
this summer I occasionally provide food
for them, but in front of the house as
far as possible from the clothes line.
Furthermore, whenever I see a bird
on the clothes line-whether it is in
use or not-I gently but firmly and
persistently shake it until the surprised
and somewhat indignant intruder seeks
another perch.
although this constant policing has
not perceptibly reduced the feathered
population on my premises, and I still
enjoy the delightful bursts of melody
from the throats of the song sparrow
and the plaintive but pleasing wall of
the pewee, my little friends soon began
to leave the line upon my approach
even before had time to shake it, and
lately, although I still watch it very
closely, I seldom see any birds perching
on it at all.
"As a further precaution against
trouble, try to take my clothes into
the house as soon as they dry.
Sincerely yours, G. g."
* y x4
SECOND STREET.
Dear Sir:
Your column Saturday evening car
ries letter from j. D., asking if hum
mingbirds usually come so far down in
the city. They are regular visitors as
far down as Third and D streets NV.
HE thinks they have a nest some
where near, but not where he can see
it. He may be mistaken, the nest is
probably much nearer than he thinks
and plainly in sight, though not visible
| inches, and when working over rose
bush at the corner of the house !
Strengthened up and saw very small
black and shining eye, not 8 inches
from my nose.
CLOSER examination marked out a
| long, slender and needle sharp bill; the
| throat of the female hummingbird was
not visible, as it rested on the edge OF
! the nest.
She was perfectly motionless until
I reached almost to her head, then one
flip of her wings and she was gone
THE nest lay right out in the open
so she could fly in any direction, fastened
| to a branch of the rose bush. I was
| looking down on two eggs, later birds.
| Her green back blended so perfectly
with the material of the nest and with
the green rose leaves surrounding 1t one
could scarcely find the nest when she
was away. Her bright black eye was
the most visible part of the scenery
| AS to the query, Docs the female have
the patch Of red on the neck?" it is not
patch. Sincerely, H. f. S."
This is correct, about the red on the
ruby-throated hummingbird male not
being patch.
1t is, rather, the whole throat which
is brilliant metallic red. changing tt
golden and sometimes greenish in vary.
ing lights.
The female hummer is metallic
bronze-green all over, but carries some
black, grayish white and tints of brown
I There are tufts of white on each side
of the rump, characteristic which alst
may be noted in the male.
Hummingbirds are spread over tn,
entire District of Columbia. At the
height of their season. in June ane
July. there may be more of them ir
the city than EnRlish sparroWs.