Evening star., 1947-03-07
This and That
By Charles E. Traceuell

Dear Sir:
Since childhood in Virginia 7 always
heard that birds select their mates every
year on February IA, but of late when T
speak OF 1t am laughed at. o
will you please tell me If there is
any truth or is this simply legend.
Respectfully yours, G. A. W."
Il X Il X
This is a legend due to the desire of
many persons to humanize the birds.
The only practical fact in relation to
1t is that often early February Is warm
enough to make the birds begin to think
spring is really here.
They tend at such times to select their
mates, If their old ones are missing, but
by and large there is no date set, of
course.
It is only the desire of humanity to
make all things human that would
allow any one to pretend that the
songsters know about our St. Valentines
day!
1t is nice enough legend. as far as
it goes, just as is the one about the blue
jays flying to see their father, the
devil on Fridays.
This is based on the indubitable fact
that jays do more or less absent them
selves from their usual haunts on that
day.
AS to why this is SO, is anybody's
guess. But it had been observed by
almost every one interested in these
birds.
The modern idea, as contrasted with
the old one, is that jays are more
sinned against than SHINING. Old plates
show the jays with dripping eggs Of
other birds in their claws.
Such pictures portray only occasional
jays. They do not truthfully represent
these true Americans. One has but to
watch them closely at a bird feeding
station to admire them, and to see that
they do not in any sense poster other
species, but to the contrary get along
with them very we'll &
The blue jay is an outstanding fellow,
beautiful to look at, and interesting to
watch. He takes care of himself, and his
family. He is one of the few species
which lives in small f1ocks composed of
his own. The father, mother and three
or four children, sometimes few more,
make up these bands
Such bands come to feeding stations,
and are SO regular in this habit that
their absence, after a time, may be
noticed.
It will then be realized that they
absent themselves on Friday. At this
point the mind of man, seeking an ex-
PLANTATION, turns to religion, and, COM
bining it with the old idea of the bad
ness" of the jay, comes up with a
legend.
Tho rnnrfh ropnpf1vy nr,1aI ic oFf
warm. This year nature, after giving
snowless months, suddenly surprised us
by sending down snow and plenty of It,
But bad weather, as we humans call
it, is just weather to the birds They
are used to taking fair and foul days as
they come. In their stride, as the ex-
preston has 1t.
Birds do not resent snow and ice
They just hustle the harder for living
In this they are helped no end by kind
hearted admirers.
The snowy days set off the birds in
marvellous manner.
Addicts of bird watching and feeding
must be glad of snow, now and then, If
for no other reason than 1t furnished
a fine background for their favorites.
Cardinals, Jays and others shine with
renewed coloring against the neutral
background
And even in the snow, the birds do
begin to feel the various urges of spring.
Common sparrows often may be seen
carrying small sticks for nest building
in February.
The bluebirds begin to nest about
March S. Soon thereafter the busy
Jenny Wrens appear, and following
long list of favorites, at present just
beginning to feel the urge to fly north.
That is where we come in. and We viii
be waiting for them.