Evening star., 1947-10-24
This and That
By Charles z. Trnce1Dell
"TWENTY-FIRST STREET.


Dear Sir:
'The window of my third-story room looks
out on a fiat roof fanked on one side by an
apartment house wall and on the other by
few spare Ailanthus trees
Directly in front of the roof there Is an
alley surrounded by more buildings-under such
circumstances as these, wonder If it would
be possible to attract birds to the roof?
Except for two cardinals in September, I
have seen nothing around but sparrows and
starlings.
would seed suet and water do the trick
this winter? Or does the lack of vegetation
and situation of the roof make it hopeless?
"A word of advice will be most appreciated.
Sincerely, M r. j."
X X
One living in the city cannot expect to
attract as many species of birds as the subur-
ban resident.
But cardinals, sparrows and starlngs are
not bad beginning, by any means; an
observer can find a great deal of interest
and amusement in these three alone.
The fiat roof makes an ideal situation, as
a matter of fact The few trees close by
give honey" touch which will be appreciated
by the birds.
Mixed seed and grain, with bit of suet,
and a fiat pan of water, should lure many
more birds than these.
The drawback-there always seems to be
a drawback-will be that pigeons will be at
tracted, but this cannot be- helped.
Another drawback is that some one is almost
are attracted, but this cannot be helped either.
Some one is always complaining about some
thing This Is an age of complaint.
Perhaps such sheltered situation will keep
many of this type from knowing what Is
going on.
The scattered seed husks after awhile will
cover the roof, and may wash into drains and
downspouts. unless there is some way of sweep
ing the roof clean from time to time.
These drawbacks should not be permitted
to interfere with the plans of any one trying
to 90 a good deed.
Feeding wildbirds in the cold is good for
all concerned. It is good for the birds, for
the human observers, for the city and for
the Nation.
Now that takes in great deal, to stem
from such little thing, but when we con-
slider how much good the birds do with their
beauty and grace and hunger-for 1t Is
because they eat that they help us by con-
Stunning inimical seeds and insects we see
how the chain is golden all the way along.
X X X
This column over the years has printed many
letters from people who feed the birds in the
deep city.
Sometimes they have a situation no more
promising than that outlined above. Some
times they simply throw food on the sidewalk.
Squirrels often come to such situations, and
should be welcomed. At times 1t may seem
that they chase the desired birds away, but
it will be found by longer observation that
the creatures seem to take turns at the food,
and that no one sort can be constantly in
position.
In the city one must expect to have sur
plus of starllngs and common sparrows. After
all, these are interesting birds. Viewed with
sympathy, they are seen to be birds as well
as any, each with interesting and pleasing
traits.
Food thrown on such roof before day
light will attract many early feeders and some
should be placed with some regularity just
before dark. II only one feeding time can be
| utilized, the early morning Is the best, as the
birds are hungry and cold then, and need
the warmth which they get quickly from food
A window sill feeder above such q roof as
outlined is good thing, because the food
swept out OF the feeding station by impetuous
songsters falls to ths roof and is eaten there