Evening star., 1947-08-08
This and That
By Charles 4. Trdce,peu
"GAITHERsBURG, Md.

tAlIdEESBuHG, Md.
I'VE have a daily visitor. an orchard oriole
which chooses q top branch of pin oak tree
for his evening concert. To me this is the
very best Of all bird songs.
II do not know where the oriole nested and
raised his family.
Il would be glad If you would tell more about
this fine bird and his habits
This summer In our little less than half
acre, at least six kinds OF birds have success
fully raised their families this year. including
robin catbird, mocker, wren, English sparrow
etc.
"At least two pairs of cardinals have been
constant visitors to our feeder. but I believe
they built In a woods nearby, as did one of nv
favorites, the wood thrush.
Il always look upon This and That a. a lar-
monious, wellbalanced and appropriate pedes-
tai upon which rest the ever commendable edi-
torial columns of The Evening Star
Sincerely, 8. P. r."
SILVER SPRING, Md.
Dear Sir:
Your bird talks are very interesting nave
been reading them and enjoying them since
coming here from Seattle, where fed the
birds, and had robins and sparrows all winter,
put mere there are sparrows and many jlncos
during the winter.
The other day we saw a catbird with only
two tail feathers and in few days he was
back again with only one. The f1rst time I
have noticed anything like that.
AS am hard OF hearing do not hear their
songs but enjoy watching them every day.
MY grandson built birdhouse for their feed
ing place, and they come every day and seem
to enjoy the dish Of water
I try to give them the food they enioy best.
mix bacon dripping with crumbs of bread and
they night over 1t. Sincerely yours. E. E. K.'
The orchard oriole Is inches lonr blaek
above. chestnut underneath, with some yellow
on the wings. The female Is greenish
Males In their second year still resemble the
mother, but are beginning to have the black
all over the head
The nest does best in orchards, hence the
name; 1t Is basket shaped, partly hanging in
which from to pale white eggs. tinged with
blue. are placed. The eggs are spotted with
brown around the large end
This bird Is not seen as much as the more
hamboyant Baltimore oriole. One admirer, in
fit of candor, called it the bastard Baltimore
1t really deserves its better name, orchard or
brown oriole. Other common names are
orchard starting, orchard hang-nest and basket
bird.
The nest Is by no means as elaborate or
cleverly contrived as that of the Baltimore
species. But 1t is . good job, nevertheless
The weaving is done carefully, put through and
bIlIUuGn many tlINeS.
The nest is usually made of long grasses. and
these give wonderfully fine nest-at first: no
sooner do the babies hatch out than the grasses
are all faded. and shown up too plainly among
the green leaves.
This is regarded by ornithologists as one of
natures mistakes Instinct has let down the
nest builder, they believe. But it makes no
difference, perhaps.
The nest usually is placed low. from five to
20 feet up. but occasionally much higher.
This is one of the most beneficial birds we
have. II eats insects almost entirely, and Of
course. feeds It's young on them
The song is fine, as our correspondent noted
personally, We prefer the wood thrush, but
every one to his taste.
The orchard oriole even says orchard" If
one listens with imagination.
In the male bird, some OF the feathers are
edged with white.
All in all, this species is one OF our best.
and it is too bad that we are not privileged to
see 1t more.
Since it often remains back among leaves,
even the glimpses We get are likely to be decev-
ing. since this retired position shades the bird,
and makes 1t look more dull than 1t really Is.