Evening star., 1947-04-05
This and That
By Charles E. TrdcetDeU.
"HYATTsvILLE, Md.


note that you have had no reports from
nearby Maryland on the red-breasted
nuthatches
1--WE are very much interested in
birds, and saw the red-breasted nut
matches feeding at the suet last year
for the first time; they also appeared
a number of times this winter.
"You may also be interested to hear
fall some weeks ago we had three quail
come to the yard for bird seed, which
we put out in a cleared-off space. They
came regularly for several weeks, and
were very interesting to watch.
Yours truly, F. B. W."
4 X X
BETHESDA, Md.
Dear Sir:
Perhaps your Virginia readers are
better correspondents. Certainly We
have the red-breasted nuthatch here in
Montgomery County. Our feeder is
visited constantly during the winter by
at least two individuals. They are still
with us.
"a high point In bird watching at
our place this year was having q flock
of II quail come to eat under the
feeder for several days after the recent
heavy snow had been on the ground
week.
Cedar waxwings had never descended
from the treetops here (where We
had identified them through binoculars)
until about 10 days ago, when q flock
of 36 came to the bird bath.
"Since then we have seen them daily.
Sunday they crowded into the bath
in such numbers it was quite hidden,
with others fiuttering in the air watt
ing their turn to alight.
1.-The first robin in our yard this
spring was seen March II.
I'VE had q Carolina wren early in
the winter but have not seen him for
two months. A month ago q pair OF
Eastern tree sparrows spent few days
in the yard. We have large hocks of
purple flnches and about a dozen white
throated sparrows.
when you speak of killing rats with
red squill, always wish I could
interrupt and suggest 20-cent trap
instead The latter worked much bet
ter for us and with less trouble and
expense.
Thanks to your description of pr
method, have caught (and killed.
six moles and expect to Danish them
entirely this spring. In early January,
when 1t was so warm and summery,
I caught one.
"very truly yours, r. 8. B.
"P. S-We have had bluebirds nest
ing here for two years. About six Of
them had been feeding on holly berries
this winter, but have been absent q
month.
Where do you think they have
temporarily absenting themselves. They
also have been missing on the Kenwood
course for the same period"
X
The trouble with rat traps Is that
they sometimes catch birds.
ANY one who has put out trap
for rat, oaly to md In 1t the next
morning q beautiful cardinal, will realize
that red squin has some good points.
Red squill Is not poison, In 4 sense.
but material which will make 1t
impossible for rats to live. Let US put
1t that way. Other small animals
are able to throw 1t up. Rodents lack
the vomit reflex, hence must keep the
material down, to their undoing.
Bluebirds cannot be denied the right
to migrate, when they choose. Our
correspondents birds probably have
gone North for a time. They may
or may not be back.
These lovely birds do not ind modern
conditions exactly to their liking. (Who
can blame them2) They look around
for = nesting site, do not find 1t, or
do not find one exactly to their liking,
they move on, not being immune to
the universal migration idea firmly
planted Ia 20 many Of the birds. II
they coma back. finally, % much gain
Ter ~