Evening star., 1947-10-08
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TraceUe1l
I 7 UJC UEIL
BETHESDA, Md.

BETHESDA, Md.
Dear Sir:
IT put up neat bluebird house the other
day and what do get?
"Starlings!
"A band of these pests flew in and imme-
diately started to investigate the house
This made me pretty sore, but I got out my
spy glasses and watched the proceedings.
"One old fellow stuck his head into the
entrance and felt sure would keep on going,
If he could, but the 2-inch hole would not
permit him.
"He got in as far as his shoulders, after
which he gave it up and pulled out again.
He had no sooner pulled out than another
startling tried it and then another, until each
member OF the gang had made the attempt.
They reminded me of small boys up to
something; they would not give up, but tried
1t time after time
do you think they will enlarge the entrance
and make it their winter quarters?
Very truly, E. De NJ"
If the entrance to this bluebird house is 2
inches across, it is too wide and in time the
starlings will make it.
The bluebird house entry is best made "
inches wide, at the most.
If one wanted to entertain starlings-there
are many persons who do, despite the propa-
ganda against them-the best thing to do is to
make and set up flicker house.
This box is big one, usually made of some
soft wood, the floor by inches; the depth,
16 to 18 inches; the hole, inches in diameter
the height of hole above floor, IA to 16 inches;
it is best placed from to 20 feet above ground
Any startling will take to this one and not
for nesting alone, as all other birds do.
He will live in it during the winter, showing
his superior intelligence.
The startling has been maligned so much
%I1a{
to watch it and see how 1t uses its brains
Since man has succeeded-or has he?-on
his brain power, he ought to admire any other
living thing who is able to use his mind out
side OF the plainly laid down lines of instinct
Most species of birds have no conception
OF shelter in winter.
The bird boxes stand untenanted until the
spring
But the startling, being wise old bird, thinks
these manmade boxes should be put to some
good use in the cold, too
And he is right.
He seeks shelter from the cold, partly be-
cause his claws are more susceptible to freez-
ing than the toes of most species.
There have been cases reported of starlings
freezing fast to metal roofs
The birds know the danger of such places,
that is why they prefer the stone ledges Of
heated Government buildings, another striking
instance of intelligence in action.
In the West, these hardy birds seek the
shelter OF great cattle barns and are there
sometimes slain by the hundreds.
Even these canny creatures cannot cope with
the treachery of mankind.
The passenger pigeons couldn't do it and
now they are extinct
Our correspondent should not feel angry
over the investigation by the starlings of his
new bluebird house and we do not believe that
he is, that he only likes to join the present
hue and cry against this bird.
Following the pack is a well known trait in
humanity. Human beings have followed the
crowd so long, with somewhat dubious results,
that they ought to realize this time, one would
think, that the e~oice of the people is not always
the voice of God.
The startling Is an interesting, instructive
bird. Viewed in the sunlight he is beautiful.
Watched with some approach to the liberation
Christians are supposed to have, he appears
q child Of God as much as any.