Evening star., 1947-01-24
This and That
Bu Charles E. Trace1Dell.

A correspondent suggests that several
bricks be kept on the furnace and used
in the bird bath in the afternoon to
songsters.
This is good idea, and one many
persons can carry out. to- the satfsfac-
ton of their feathered friends. =
Such bricks would give. pleasant
warmth, be not too hot to stand on and
would be something tangible in the house
to make one think of the birds outside.
That, after all, is the great difficulty
of keeping the bird bath filled in winter.
Some baths cannot stand freezing up.
Others go through the season without
a crack, but in all cases the human ele-
ment in the case Is, shall we say, very
human.
It is easy to forget this task, but often
the wildbirds in our yards need water
almost as much as they do something
to eat.
Many persons do not realize, SEEM
ingly, that winter winds and cold tend
to dry up the water in shallow places.
Nor do they keep in mind that this
has been dry fall and winter, SO far,
despite rainy days.
Birds not only must drink, but they
like to bathe, even on the coldest days.
This is another link with them. Man,
as developed today, is no fonder Of his
bath than the birds.
StarlingS and Sparrows are great
bathers at this time of year, while in
spring and summer the migratory
species are continually going in"
But in wintertime, even the persons
interested in the birds often forget
about water or its lack in the bird bath.
It will be necessary to break the ice
on some of the coldest days, and, If the
wind is blowing, to repleniSh the sup
ply in the middle of the afternoon.
If hot brick is used, it, too, is best
placed in the water in the afternoon,
but not too late. Generally about 2
o'clock is best.
If the bath is in the sun, this helps
to keep the water from freezing over.
AS a rule it is best to have the water
container at some distance from the
feeding place
Filling of the bath, if done about the
same time each day, becomes cere-
mony among the bird population.
The birds look for it, and flutter
among the shrubs, after which they
descend in numbers, hurrying to be
first in" -
Watching the bathing is real sport,
If one likes the birds.
Evan drama may be enacted there.
Once we saw an old starting save q
young sparrow from drowning.
This is not an unusual deed with this
ungainly bird Somehow he seems to
have the lifesaver instinct. Such good
deeds are seldom remembered by the
startling haterS.
If a formal bird bath is not available,
a kitchen pie pan, or other shallow
dish, makes an excellent bird bath and
drinking pool.
Such a pan can be placed on the
lawn in the middle of the afternoon
and will present rallying place for all
species.
1t is enheartening to see the way the
songsters take turns.
There may be some hustling for place,
but not much; generally the different
kinds get along together very well,
Just as they do at the feeding stations.
Often what seems hostility to the in
experienced eye is nothing more than
the usual pushing and showing INDUCED
in by living things for place.
One should never be too hasty to
criticize the birds. They are very DID,
and very "set" in their ways, and
mostly have found habits over the CEN
turies which give them the best chance
for survival Even such aids as food
openly arrived at in feeding station,
and water warmed for their comfort
with a hot brick, are part of their evo-
luton, in that their needs and minds
have acted on the emotions and intel
ugence Of man for the good Of both.