Evening star., 1947-11-20
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeH
ARLINGTON, Va.

f1Itb1N11oS, Fd
Dear Sir:
1--WE were greatly interested in the letter from
the family that has had pair of cardinals with
them for 10 years.
I'VE moved into this house nine years ago
last March. A pair of cardinals already were
in possession of the place. Except for short
interval each summer when the mother takes
her young fry to the woods they have both
been here ever since, day and night, winter
and summer. We, of course, have no idea how
long they were here before we came
"Old Grumpy, the male never leaves No
one could convince us that they are not the
same individuals
They continue to sleep in the same places,
depending upon the season. At feeding time.
morning and night, if I am not in the kitchen,
they find me where I am in the house, park
outside that window, and chirp until they get
my attention.
"They have grown tanner with the years
"The male even perches on the iron railing
at the door and asks for the shelled peanuts
they have both learned to like.
"They have several routines that new birds
would have had to learn.
ITO us it Is obvious that they are old. This
Is especially true OF Grumpy. His feathers are
ragged and his colors less bright.
He is less scrappy than he used to be- but
more peevish, though he doesn't pick on his
wife as much as he once did
Each season we wonder whether they will
again take on the responsibilities of raising a
family. They always do,
This summer they had excellent luck and
did an excellent job. Grumpy takes his re-
sponsibilities very seriously while the babies
are in need of care, but he will not allow them
to stay on indefinitely. This is our great re-
gret. Some other back yards gets the lovely
new ones.
I'VE have never had more than the one
pair of cardinals during the winter months.
incidentally, they are very fond of bathing.
There has been some discussion In your column
as to whether cardinals like to bathe.
IT also am one of those who turn to your
column first Sincerely, E. T A
This correspondent might try Sprinkling
sunf1ower seed in circle about 10 feet in
diameter at some one place every evening
an hour before dusk.
The driveway. or other smooth spot, would do
This may cause the young cardinals to
fly in
There is no reason for one yard to have just
one pair OF these marvellous birds.
While 1t Is true the old ones try to get the
youngsters to go out into the world for them
selves, and do not go in family groups as do
the Jays many cardinals will come to one yard
In fall and winter.
In our own place we have had as many as
dozen pairs, a full dozen OF each sex, making
a brilliant and interesting assembly
The prettiest cardinal picture we have ever
seen was OF these "a birds perched in the same
large lilac bush.
Most of them, no doubt were related.
During 10 years, the number in the yard
has varied from two to the aforementioned
"a cardinals. Just what accounts for the vari-
ance Is unknown, since conditions and food
have been the same year after year.
There are many ways Of measuring time
and by cardinals is as good as any perhaps.
The year commonly called 1889 In the books
Is listed In our memory as "the cardinal year"
and that, of course, was about tops
Fortunately, one pair Of cardinals is as good
as u pairs, In very good sense But If we
can get more, 30 much the better.