Evening star., 1947-10-17
This and That
By Charles E. TraceDel,
"TAKOMA PARK.

Dear Sir:
After the hurricane, we received the follow
ing letter. which you may publish If you like. It
is from former resident of Washington and
an interested reader of The Star and YOUR
delightful column, as likewise are ourselves and
most IN this area. Very truly, M L. S."
The enclosure, from Boynton Beach, Fla, is
as follows:
Here we go Here we go! Here we got
What joy to hear this greeting from an
old friend the mockingbird, in the afternoon,
after the mighty hurricane!
During the raging storm we spoke of the
birds, and wondered where they had taken
refuge.
ITO our great delight. we heard the cardi-
nails even before We ventured forth to inspect
the damage, and these redbirds were on the
terrace for their usual sunfower seed.
"A favorite feeding place was the yellow
hibiscus bushes which held their little swings
and boardwalk. All were fattened to the
ground. The birds had become accustomed to
finding the seeds on the seats of the swing
which had been hung for them, and on which
they would swing away just like canaries
AN injured red-headed woodpecker was
brought in from the street and after a good
rest and eating several slices of bread it
flew away among the trees.
The mockingbirds are singing and dancing
all around How delightful to watch them and
give pause to worry about the huge pine
tree that fell on the roof of Birdhaven.
The mocker dance seems to be kind of
minuet Some call it territorial dance
The big blow has passed and the mocking-
birds are dancing this contest dance for
home OF their choice in sunshine and flowers.
The tree is now off the roof and repairs
made. Big double yellow blossoms are coming
out on the tied-up hibiscus
The double poinsettia which were stripped
have had many new buds, a promise for
Christmas
Birds have way of their own of protecting
themselves in storms /
They seek shelter in evergreens and other
low-growing things, and patiently wait for
the danger to end
Some are killed in every big blow" but most
of them survive.
Bird lovers of Washington and vicinity for
tupately to date have not passed through
hurricane so do not neef to worry on that
score for the small wild things of the outdoors.
This cheerful letter from Florida should re-
assure us all, in case we should ever have to
endure hurricane or similar violence of
nature
Birds are ideally suited to pass through such
tempests.
They are small, and can stand much buffet
ing, and have their wings and their art of
flight to help them get through gales that
would blow larger and more solid bodies to
pieces.
Ordinary storms do little damage to bird life.
1t Is usually when sleet suddenly strikes, mixed
with a strong wind that birds die by the
thousands.
So local birdovers may be at rest when
our little storms howl outside. The birds
were made by circumstances and their Creator
to Withstand just such blows
The best we can do for them, no matter the
weather, Is to put out good food, so that they
may have plenty Of internal heat. And If We
make sure that they can find pans Of fresh
water (even on the coldest days, shallow pans
filled with slightly warmed water will remain
open for few hours we have done about all
that we can do for them.