Evening star., 1947-05-16
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. TrdceDeH.


vienna, Va.
Dear Sir:
1--WE have a white robin living here
"Is he an albino?
eve seen him almost every day for two
weeks. One day he was on the front lawn
with two other robins. That was when
discovered his identity.
'The breast is red but all the rest Is
creamy white. Sincerely, G. G. P"
ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
I'VE continue to put suet and bread on the
feeding station, which is visited by catbirds
blue jays, titmice, Knockers, etc.
Several pine trees are nearby and in one
pair of robins have built nest. The father
is kept busy chasing all the other birds away
as soon as they come to feed.
"At times there are so many different ones
around waiting their turn to feed that he
has hard time deciding which one to chase
first. He does not hesitate to 60 after the
larger birds.
I'VE were very much surprised to see the
robin eating suet one day. Apparently he likes
1t, for he is quite often seen eating from the
piece now. have a wren house in one OF the
pines about 20 feet from the robin nest. A
pair of wrens have been carrying material into
it the past few days. They sing from sun up
until sun down and seem to enjoy bite OF
suet once in while.
1.-THE robin chases them but to little avail
for they just swing around the limb they are
on as the robin swoops down on them, then
they sing and sing just as If they were laughing
at him.
1--WE get a great deal of enjoyment from
watching the various antics of the birds and
can see many traits that are also common to
humans. Numerous thrushes roam the garden
and lawn in search of food, but the robin does
not bother them.
"A daily reader, r. 8. p"
Robins deserve more attention than they
often get from human beings.
This is because these birds are regarded as
extremely common, and so they are today, but
In the Civil War days and before, robins were
almost strangers to this vicinity.
In old books about birds here they are men,
toned as rarities.
This ought to make us feel that In this
respect, at least, we are more fortunate that
those who went before, for the robin is a fine
creature.
Only the other day we had a prominent
gentleman tell us that he had been watching
birds all spring, but it was just as he walked
along q street that he suddenly saw his first
robin, and realized, with start Of surprise,
that hitherto he had not paid any attention to
this fine creature.
Robins usually run true to color but now and
then one appears all white, or part-white.
All Of these may be regarded as albinos, al
though the latter are not complete albinos.
Robins are good nest guards. They are not
as ferocious, perhaps as the father mocktng-
bird. but never hesitate to chase away In
truders, and even birds which might, In the
fathers eyes, become intruders.
In this way robins often fight, and at times
these are battles to the death, since the tactics
call for incessant chasing. during which the
pursued bird through sheer panic fear, often
dies OF combined fright and lack OF breath.
Robins are large birds, powerful on the wing.
and possessed of strong bills and fine neck
muscles.
Their singing Is along the warbling style.
with some variations when calling for rain =
Their everyday singing is far better than many
people realize since they do not listen to it
fairly, but merely accept 1t as a part Of the
outdoors noises
I The smart thing to do Is listen to the robin
as If he were great tenor-and, indeed, he Is
and in time you viii realize that his Is one of
| the best songs ct the spring and summer
! chorus