Evening star., 1947-12-02
This and That
BIZ Charles +. Trace,DeH

0V ItuYtCS =. 4JuCCWCH
Many persons profess to dislike common
sparrows at feeding stations, but We believe
that If they would stop and look ut them long
enough they would admire them.
Certainly something is gained by numbers,
upon occasion What would 4 great football
game be without the cheering crowd? Or
baseball game either?
When it comes to the small arena OF the
bird feeding tray outside the window, group
of sparrows gives q moving picture not equalled,
in q sense, by any one or two birds, no matter
how fine
In fact the beauty of such small scene
is that 1t offers both one and many; the soli-
tary cardinal, in all his splendor; the cheerful
chickadee in his black cap: the impudent
screaming Jay, and the jostling Of . dozen
sparrows.
We were watching the latter scene the other
afternoon, and before long fell to laughing.
1t was impossible to watch those hungry mites
without becoming interested in the way they
went at it.
First one would ny in, bouncing the two on
each side off the tray edge.
Another had different technique.
He would fly in, then Immediately start to
peck, first at the one on the right, then at
the one on the left.
Each bird seemed to have evolved 4 way
of getting what it wanted They were not
gentlemen, certainly in the human sense;
there was no need, in their world, for etiquette
What was necessary was just something to
eat, evidently; that was what they desired,
and they wanted 1t in as direct and immediate
a way as possible.
So they went at it with jostling wings and
pecking bills.
All in all, the way they acted could not be
called in any real sense, fighting.
It has been the custom to berate these birds,
but If they are actually watched it will be
seen that their habits are not much different
of
What makes them somewhat different is, OF
course, their habits of living in f1ocks. Much
the same thing can be said Of the starlings.
Both these birds like the company of their
friends and relations. In this they are akin to
humanity. We cannot censure them for being
like ourselves.
Their faults, as seen from the human view
point, largely arise because there are so many
of them.
Even the person who dislikes sparrows usually
is willing to admit that if there were just two or
three of the little birds at their feeding stations,
they would like them
BIT as it is, they say, dozens come, and
eat most of the seed and grain, and keep other
birds away,
What shall they do?
They do not wish to kill them, they say, and
trapping is too much trouble, and after they
have trapped them, they do not know what to do
with them.
More will come.
So, what is the solution?
The remedy is q change in watching habits.
q new way of thinking about the birds
Often this change is a growth, an achieve
ment, taking time.
It is a gradual growth from the old man
| to the new man.
But 1t may be achieved instantly, as a sort
of grace, if one is determined to do it.
It is our hope that many sparrow-haters
will take this way, and through this printed
| WORD, suddenly lean up against their windows
and grow righteous
1t can be done, and the rewards are many
Instead of growing angry, thereafter. when
! they see spaIrows, they will watch with Won
dering eyes a group of hungry, interesting,
| pushing creatures in the cold.
They will have a mind at peace, instead OF
irked and irritated by what they see. Bluebirds
cardinals. jays chickadees-watch your laurels
| for the confirmed watcher may not hnd you
As interesting, by comparison, rs he thought
once he gets into his mind and heart true
love for sparrows.