Evening star., 1947-07-10
This and That
Bu Charles E. Trace1DeH.

Charm of baby startling is portrayed in the
following from reader:
"The other morning when taking predawn
stroll a little bird trustingly followed me
around, almost hopping across my feet when
stopped.
HE was larger than the sparrows, all gray
with vertical streaks on the breast and black
or midnight blue square spots on the shoulders
He was eating beetles. Could he be young
startling?
my guess was confirmed by noting that night
that six or seven of these birds were congre-
gated in wistaria vine under the caves, be-
having very much like the staTlings or their
roosts under the caves of the Treasury.
How do these birds nest? Do the parents
let these f1edglings, whose flight is feeble, fend
for themselves while they swoop in Pennsyl-
vania avenue in those formation flights about
which you have written with such poetry?
Sincerely, G. K.'
No, the father and mother startling does not
expect the babies to fend for themselves.
They are among the best of bird parents.
They simply were away collecting more food
Of a choicer kind
F.. But while they were at it. the babies were
still clsmoring for food from any one bird or
human, who would listen to them.
They are among the true babies Of the bird
world, putting on cry-baby acts at every op-
portunity.
They not only clamor for food while the
parents are with them, but cry for more from
any other father or mother bird close at hand.
In this way they prevail upon mother SPAR
rows especially, to give them food, for these
mothers seem to have more of the famous milk
of human kindness" than other species
The phrase milk of human kindness" has
become something to laugh at, or sneer at, in
recent years, with the record for cruelty set up
in World War II.
We need some other phrase to show what
human beings at their best may be.
Mother sparrows, both common and song, like
to feed the babies of other parents.
They must since nothing compells them
They do G at service to the startling family
In this way.
In any yard where feeding is carried on the
sight of small sparrow mother feeding huge
by comparison weanlings is a common
one.
The starlings perch on fences, and squawk
and squawk.
Like cowbird babies, they never seem to get
enough.
The parents work assiduously to keep those
yawning bills filled. but whenever they leave
the greedy babies. the latter set up howl to
any one with ears.
They seem unafraid of other birds or OF
humans. in way that strikes the heholder as
not exactly intelligent. for these birds are not
particularly good flyers at first
| The nest of the startling Is sometimes made
| in BUSH or even in tree. but at times In
nesting boxes put out for other species.
| Sometimes they are placed in tree cavities
caves of houses, even in church steeples, but
| upon occasion on the ground, or fiat roof.
| The startling is not held down at all by Gus
tom, therefore may be called a liberal or even
| progressive. Certainly he Is communistic.
The nest is made of grasses, leaves, paper and
| straw. and is lined with fine grasses.
From four to six eggs are laid. There are
| two nestings year. The eggs are plain pale
| greenish or bluish-white.
This handsome, vigorous bird Is here to stay
| despite what individuals or individual COM
| munities do about It,
| If bounties are offered for 1t, native black.
| birt will be the worst sufferers. And those
| who kill It, no matter how Official" they are
| will In the end suffer the fate Of all killers.