Evening star., 1947-10-22
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TraceueH,
rs STREET.

rs STREET
Dear Sir:
1--WE have a new bird, new for this part Of
the CITY, at least
II would think 1t q house wren except I
know that one does not stay here.
This one is big, If it is a wren, and It's tail
makes me think it must be-
THE song is loud and do know exactly
how to describe It,
This isn't much Of description, but hope
you can tell me what bird it Is.
"Yours truly, J. H. D."
The bird Is the Carolina wren
1t is the largest Of its family, and one Of
the best.
The song has a sort Of whirling character
which has reminded some listeners of musical
.pin-wheel, going around and around.
This bird comes often to nearby Mary
land and Virginia suburbs, where 1t is always
accepted as fine visitor.
In the city it Is equally fine, pleasant bird
to have around during the cold
Large for wren, it is not very big, after al,
but more sparrow size.
The Carolina wren is one Of the few birds
that seems to have q notion of winter shelter,
and will sleep in rolled up awning or porch
shades.
Many attempts have been made to cater to
It's tastes, but since it likes worms, the good
deed Is difficult
Meal worms have been put out for 1t, but
other winter residents get most of them.
The meal worms may be grown in old flour
or the like. Too often they seem to spring into
being spontaneously in such material that
has been kept around too long. A little mois-
ture may help the process.
This Is messy business and those who want
to tempt Carolina wrens in this way had best
purchase meal worms by the thousand. Deal
ers in tropical fishes and aquarium products
sometimes can supply them:
Sparrows and starlings will continue to be
the most common Of the winter birds seen by
casual observers in the city.
There will be, however, others easily seen.
Many deep-city yards, surrounded by high
board fences, know the chickadee, the titmouse
and the white-breasted nuthatch.
The brown creeper comes to old established
trees in the city, and there, too, may be seen
the downy woodpecker, smallest Of its tribe,
along with the song sparrow, the cardinal and
always the blue jay.
Surely these are good birds, no matter where
seen, and the resident of paved streets may
have them. too with a little good will and a
supply Of food heavily loaded with sunfower
seed.
Sundower seed Is expensive, but little will
go long way, If it is used to pep up" lesser
seeds and grains for the birds.
The sunflower seeds will be eaten first it Is
TRUE, put the SongSterS In gatner1ng IL IN Will
meet the others face to face, as 1t were, and
will eat them, too, after they have finished with
the cAoicer seed.
The sunhower seed is great favorite of that
other Washington bird" the gray squirrel He
is all over the CITY, and may be seen almost
anywhere there are trees, in which he spends
most of his life.
No one should resent the fact that the squir-
rel is hungry, or that he eats what Is put out
for the birds.
little seed and chicken feed" may be
mixed, to supply heat and energy to the song
sters which honor us with their presence in
winter. If we care for them during the cold,
they will be on hand even before spring begins,
to help us kill the insect pests In addition,
many Of the wintering species are tree spe-
cialists; that is, they find and eat the eggs Of
Insects In crevices Of bark, and never tire of
going over and over the boughs and branches
and great trunks In their search for food