Evening star., 1947-03-21
This and That
Bu Charles E. TraceDell
"F STREET.

IOCG
Dear Sir:
"I live about mile north Of your
home.
"Have a very satisfactory feeding sta
ton outside my bedroom window. Have
had about the usual visitation OF eight
to twelve kinds of birds, and enjoy
them, especially while I am dressing In
the mornings.
Last year downy woodpecker was
q regular visitor, as he lived about ten
feet away, in the hollow of limb on
an old walnut tree. The tree was just
over the line on a neighbor's lawn, and
he saw fit to have it taken out, on &C
count of a number of dead limbs, one Of
which harbored the birds home.
"I am so fond of this fellow that I
want to know If I should find suit
able hollow limb in the woods, and tie
it to one Of my own trees COT course
with a hole bored in it, and the limb
plugged up top and bottom), do you
think they might build there? Only
nearby tree is large dogwood, which
Is very full of foliage during the sum-
mer, and might discourage his adop-
ton of the home Do they have to
have a limb that is entirely, or almost,
denuded Of foliage?
"Also want to ask you about mock
ingbirds that come to my station. The
only thing they seem to desire is water
Most of the time this winter, the ground
is frozen, but there has been consider
able snow. When he comes, the pan OF
water is frozen. always open the win
dow, and place fresh water in it.
"Whereupon he Immediately returns
and drinks, and drinks. and drinks.
Your articles say that snow is sufficient
for thirsty birds, but this fellow seems
to desire real water. AS he only drinks,
never eats, except an occasional peck at
the suet, it seems to me that he must
be an exception to the rule. However,
have not been placing raisins for any
birds, and it may be that he would go
for them
"Since February I have been awak-
ened by the lovely music OF the cardi-
mails, and the song sparrow, both Of
which are regular patrons.
ANY information as to the proposed
woodpecker home, and the possible food
for the mocker, would be appreciated.
Sincerely, D. B. E."
A box for a downy woodpecker is one
of the smallest that Is made. The con-
struction is as follows:
Floor of box, 4 by inches; depth Of
box, to 10 inches; diameter Of en-
trance, 114 inches; hole above floor,
to inches, and height OF box above
ground, to Is feet.
While the downy's nest is generally
made in a dead tree, it is not invariably
so.
Boxes may be fastened to the trunk
Of tree, or on stubs, preferably at the
edge of woodlot. No doubt that was
why our correspondents friend liked
the dead limb.
The Germans (some Of whom thought
of other things than war, evidently had
a way of extending bark-covered box
for the little woodpeckers. They split
a section of log in two, and made a
gourd-shaped cavity, larger at the bot
tom,
The two halves were fastened to-
gether, then climbing notches made on
the exterior bark. A handful of shay
ings first had been placed inside A
piece Of board was nailed over the top
as a roof
These boxes were nailed to tree
trunks, or lashed to stub ends of
branches. The downy uses his box from
fall on, being sensible fellow, and
appreciating little shelter.
There Is no particular reason why
this bird would not take to box in a
leafy tree, provided he found 1t before
the leaves came out. AS a rule, however,
they prefer a dead section of limb
All birds like fresh water in a Sha 11ou
pan, winter and summer, but most spe-
cies can get along without 1t when snow
Is on the ground.
Raisins and doughnuts are two foods
most liked by mockingbirds. Raisins
are the great favorite, much preferred
by them to suet. :