Evening star., 1947-09-30
This and That
By Charles E. Traceuell
F.. / uCCUStL
ARLINGTON, Va.

ARLINGTON, Va.
II have been much amused recently by
watching the flrst-year starlings
These young fellows, with their spots are
nne to watch. 1t seems shame that later in
life they cause so much trouble in cities
Here in my yard they fly in with their par
ents. and eat raisins and bread, particularly
the latter.
There is one cry-baby fellow who makes
great deal of noise, but actually manages to
get more than his share of food
I guess making a big noise works In the
bird Kingdom as 1t does in the human
Il have been interested too, in watching the
grackles. Though I know these are not espe-
cially desirable, must confess that have
not seen them do anything SO terrible
"They make curious noise that find hard
to describe. I recall that several years ago you
wrote about this bird, and described this noise.
Will you please tell about it again? can appre-
ciate 1t more, now that have heard it.
Yours very truly. N. j. 81
i
The grackle noise is sometimes compared
with that Of squeaky wheelbarrow.
Our correspondent will instantly recognize
the truth of this description.
Few bird sounds attract as much attention
as this
Sometimes newcomers to suburban areas have
no idea that birds are making this unusual
noise.
Birds of black hue seem to specialize in the
unusual.
In fact. black creatures on four legs, too
usually are different. =
Think of black cats
Among the birds, the crows, starlings and
grackles have unusual voices.
The cav of the crow Is unlike anything else
In the air.
The starlings manage to change their voices
from harsh to pleasant. Often the whistles
heard in our trees are made by starlings.
Indeed, whenever one hears an unusual bird
sound. 1t is good idea to suspect the starting
until one knows otherwise.
There Is bird, Of course, who also special
ICES in odd sounds. and he is by no means
black, although what seems to be blue on him
is said by some experts to be black.
This is the jay.
He Is q maker Of odd noises, ranging from
a calling of the cat to a repeated harsh series
of sounds resembling that made by rattle.
Birds Of black hue possess quality Of feather
which makes them iridescent, especially when
the sun strikes them.
No one has ever seen q starting, for in
stance. who has not watched 1t with the sun
shining squarely on 1t.
Then it becomes jeweled.
This quality Is shared by many birds, but In
none is 1t more striking.
The startling is by no means bad bird to
have around the home yard unless he comes
in great numbers. A few of him give spice
to the more desirable birds. Cardinals find
him real foil, in the theatrical sense.
One may find 1t impossible to sympathize
with certain bird watchers who want the more
desirable" birds to visit them To achieve
this, they spend much time, energy and some
times money, and in the end have only an in
creased blood pressure for their pains, because
starting is just as hungry as q chickadee, and
will come to any place where food is put out.
If one does not want starlings, he should
take care not to put out bread or any related
products. These are first prize material for
starlings. Conversely. any one who for any
reason wants to attract starlings can do it
easily by placing slices of moistened bread in
the yard.
Since this bird is q bunker" bath should
be placed nearby, In which the bird may
dunk" his bread, which he will do no matter
how much it Is moistened previously.
Young starlings make very good subjects
for observation, and no one should be so foolish
as to repel them on general principles. They
may be known easily by the white spots on
them.