Evening star., 1947-12-13
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUell
"COLUMBIA ROAD.

Dear Sir:
RE bluebirds in winter:
Il used to see them practically all winter in
an area now built up. Then it was several
acres of open fields, with some shrubs, and a
few scattered trees, east Of Rock Greek little
and little north of Piney branch. 20.
"A few telephone wires crossed the middle
of this area and the bluebirds would be perch
ing on them or flying about.
Il always read your very enjoyable and in
forming column. During the past years you
have done more, I believe, to arouse interest
in our birds than any other influence here
scientists included.
"Oh, should tell you of some other birds
Juncos-We saw two or three in our tiny back
yard near Seventeenth street and Park road
some years ago.
Turkey buzzards-A few days ago we saw
a great flock, about 100 circling and going
down to roost in or close to the Zoo.
"Once, on rainy day, saw about so roost-
ing in two tall trees across the creek from the
Zoo. Sincerely yours, P. B. j.
X X
Bluebirds like waste ground overgrown with
bushes and containing some trees of few
years growth
In this sort of environment the bluebird
does it best.
There it does not face the competition for
food and nesting sites met in gardens and
yards in city and suburban communities.
Bird feeding, as practiced today, is not parti-
cularly kind to bluebrds, because the food put
out is not the kind these birds care for, usually
The formal bird-feeding stations draw other
species, scores of them that the gentle blue
bird finds far too many to compete with,
but something seems to lure him to stay, just
the same One of these something's" is the
bluebird house, so popular, easy to make and
neat in appearance in yard.
The bluebirds flying by spot these, and fly
%I4 ,,l,,
them to try to remain, but often the COM
petition from sparroWs, starlings and others
finally forces them to give up the attempt
and fly elsewhere.
Some bird lovers grow very sad about this.
To listen to them you would think the blue
birds had no brains at all, and would not be
able to exist unless they could do 1t in the
very yard of the aforesaid bird lover.
Bluebirds are chased away from many subur-
ban and city yards, yet they are not exiled, in
any real sense, but simply fly away to some
spot of the nature described above.
On such vacant places, of which there are
many, the bluebirds settle down. They are
able to maintain themselves very we'll in such
tracts. Rock Greek Park is full Of them and
so are the reaches of the canal, and along the
Potomac.
There are sections of the city, notably Wesley
Heights, in which hundreds of bluebirds still
live.
The individual bird watcher should not think
that because he has not seen them there are
not any. Much the same thing can be said
of opossums. This column has had several
reports, of 'possumS but had seen none in our
own neighborhood. We thought there were
no 'possums-but neighbor few hundred
feet away had seen one!
The turkey buzzards find old bones and
refuse buried at the Geological Park much to
their liking
BY perching on Connecticut avenue apart
ment they can keep watch to see when this
food is put out. The bones are not placed
there for the vultures, but often cannot be
buried right away, and these canny birds, with
their marvellous eyesight tsaid to spot mouse
at niles see the food and fly down. Keepers
do not mind since it gets rid of the refuse Just
as well.
The turkey buzzard, as it is commonly called,
is a wonderful bird in all except appearance
His eyesight is equaled only by his flying
ability. In a world in which fight is held in
higher regard than ever, the ugly old yultures
must be admired.
Newcomers to Washington are advised to
take up their stand on the Calvert Street
Bridge some afternoon and watch the bug
yards soaring about over Rock Creek Valley
Sometimes the birds soar for many minutes
with scarely flap of the wings At that
height their ugly heads and scrawny necks do
not show; all one sees is the true poetry and
grace Of edortless motion.