Evening star., 1947-04-28
This and That
By Charles Z. TraceUeH.
"FAIRFAX, Va.

Dear Sir:
Like SO many Of your readers have
been content to enjoy your interesting
column without making my contribu-
ton. However, the day we had aeheavy
cold rain, we had such an unusual Wis
itor to our window feeder that thought
would share the experience.
"A male pine warbler blew In, literally.
Grasping desperately for toehold, he
sampled some bread crumbs and, tiny
though he was, he did not hesitate to
chase away the other birds.
'"The downy woodpecker proved to be
= match for him, but soon he was back
again, pecking ut the suet, peering In
the window, driving away the others
and finally deciding that he preferred
peanut butter served in a pine cone
dish
"Since then he has become q regular
visitor In the neighborhood. A friendly,
interesting little fellow whose color
scheme of olive green, yellow and gray
enhances by contrast the beauty Of all
the other birds which come to the win
dow.
Sincerely, M. 3. p"
X X
"KECOUGHTAN, Va.
Dear Sir:
Il am the same one who used to
report the coming and leaving of the
swallows (swifts to YOU'D. have had to
be here at the Veterans Hospital and
Home for quite awhile, 30:
'"The swallows arrived today. They
are the same swallows, surely, for they
dropped into the same chimney that
Ia Tna a. ~,
April 4, riding a south wind just as
they did today. I cannot get The Star
here and miss 1t and you.
Sincerely, q. g. W."
"TAKoMA PARK, Md.
Dear Sir: FER.
II follow your column faithfully and
regret that have no good words for
the startling.
1.-TWO spararows lived in 4 birdhouse
next door all winter and were preparing
for fresh nest.
I'm the morning, on going to the
garage for the car. I beheld . starting
spitefully tearing the nest to pieces and
throwing the feathers and straws on
the ground while the mother and
father sparrows helplessly watched.
uhCW Stoilco dLu llC u1odppCdI Gu
only to return until he had finished.
. THE sparrows have not started to
return. Am wondering where the star
ling Is and II he will return.
Sincerely, L. T."
+
There are bad starlings and good
good men.
Certain ones Of almost every species
OF songbird at some time or other de-
stroy the nests of other birds.
Jenny Wren, beloved Of so many. Is
\ past master at pecking holes In her
neighbor's eggs and tearing out their
nests.
We believe that the starlings, as =
group. have done more good for SPAR
rows than against them.
1t is no unusual sight to see some old
startling rescue young sparrow caught
In vine or drowning in too-deep
pool Of water.
T Starlings are among the first to join
| the hue and cry against an animal maui
| rauder raised by the jays.
Owing to their size, the starlings often
intimidate the animal, whereas the lat
| ter pays no attention to the alarms Of
the jays.
1t is plain, OF course, that ones opin-
ions of the various birds depends a
| great deal on what he has seen with his
own eyes.
Thus two persons may have exactly
opposite opinions of blue jays. One. who
has seen jay eating the egg Of another
bird will give the rascal no leg to stand
on, rs the saving has it, whereas one
| vha has peyer snnp fTa 3svr do srvft,ino a
but good In many years will wonder how
any one can dislike them.
We believe that 1t is very easy to
make drastic Judgment against q
species on little evidence and would
warn any one from doing so Remem-
ber the old saying about there being 20
| much good In the worst of us and q
much bad In the best Of US, etc.