Evening star., 1947-12-06
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrdcelDeH
"TAKOMA PARK, Md.

Dear Sir.
II have followed your advice and am drawing
many species of birds to my windows have
even put out water and scratched up place
in the earth beneath Shelter1ng shrub.
"Is there anything else can do to lure
birds to my place? would like more; 1t seems
as if cannot have too many, and always want
more.
THE activities outside my windows have
become a great pleasure and interest to me.
I never dreamed in the old days that could
become so interested in anything again.
Sincerely, E. T. H"
* Il
Putting out suet Is another thing this corre-
spondent can do
Cold weather makes demand for heat ele-
ments and certain amount OF fat helps in
the winter.
Birds particularly fond of Suet are the chlcka-
dees. nuthatches, titmice, Woodpeckers star
lings, sparroWs and cardinals
Beef suet is the best to use.
1t may be left in the piece, or ground up.
AS chunk, it may be nailed to tree or put IN
a wire basket In either case it should be above
the dog line Dogs like suet, too, and will take
it away basket and ALL if they can reach it.
This fat makes no appeal to cats, but dogs
will come for miles to eat it. Their sense OF
smell, Of course, is one of their great gifts
The innocent bloodhound is scarcely outdone,
in this respect, by some old dog without peol-
gree.
The bloodhound by the way. is one of the
kindest and most gentle of all the dogs. Some
persons, seeing pictures of them straining at
leashes, get the idea that they are blood
thirsty. Their general reputation in tracking
criminals, too, gives them this idea Nothing
could be further from the truth. These dogs
are all nose-that is, their whole life revolveS
around their powers of scent. They can carry
any smell and trace it right through to the end.
One thing that will throw a bloodhound off
quicker than anything else is the gas filling
station. The sharp, acrid odors of gas, OIL etc
render one of these dogs helpless. The modern
criminal no longer tries to cross a stream He
simply drifts through filling station, and the
faithful bloodhound completely loses his trail.
X
Never put suet, at least pile Of it, IN
feeding station.
The birds somehow do not like the whiteness
of it there.
Suet, either in the chunk or ground, is best
placed at some distance from the feeding tray.
The wire basket, or even wire soap dish,
will do nicely for container.
Worrying people sometimes get the idea that
the birds eye will freeze to the wire in very cold
weather.
Perhaps there is some chance of this, but
not much If any one suspects this, woven
basket may be used.
Or the piece of suet may be tied to a tree
trunk with twine
Delectable suet cakes, Incorporating seeds,
grains, nuts, ETC.. may be purchased at pet and
hardware stores or gardening or other shops.
One may make them at home by melting the
suet and then mixing in mixture OF grains
and seeds, along with raisins, peanut hearts
and so on.
The possibilities are endless. Oatmeal may
be mixed with suet Wheat germ would be
good. But the idea is not to make such cakes
complex What is desired is good, nutritious
food for wintering birds. Sunflower seed is
relished by all these birds, so it is one of the
main ingredients
Suet mixtures are good to affx to outdoor
Christmas trees. Wreaths of real holly berries
always attract birds and they will come to the
very door or window to get the berries.
If pieces of suet are stuck to the tips OF
evergreen branches nice appearance may be
achieved, but the suet pieces should not be very
large only big enough to give bite or two.