Evening star., 1947-07-04
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trace,UeH.

81. PETERSBURG Fla.
"My favorites here are the Knockers and the
silly but wise looking old pelicans, about the
size Of small turkey.
II 60 out to the end of the Municipal Pier
to watch them. Pelican is bird of great
patience and has the human trait of taking
advantage of the other guy. The old fishermen
are wise to them but the little children are
annoyed.
"A pelican will stand beside a fisherman
or perch atop a nearby pile and wait for the
bite-if it is small fish, he will swoop down
and grab it off the hook If he can.
Naturally, the kids don't like it. Also, I've
watched the birds walk up to can of bait
usually small pieces of fish dip in their
beak two or three times with satisfaction. No
one but the kids pays them any heed.
"On the gulf were two beautiful egrets
(white cranes-they come in different sizes and
species) who were as tame as kittens. Like
the pelicans, they helped themselves to bait.
The egrets are protected at all times by a
ST. 900 Federal fine against killing
"You will find more birds in Chevy Chase
than in St. Pete, as far as I can check.
Some of the people in the house here are
annoyed by the chatter of the mockingbirds-
they sing at any old time. Personally, love
them. try to keep count of their various
tunes-one cannot be accurate-but I stood
on street corner one evening and counted at
least II tunes
MY mocker was in palm tree answering
another about a block away. Sometimes he
initiated my whistles-or do just imagine it?
Anyway, one of the old gentlemen at the
house told me of his amused annoyance re-
Gently. mocker was making frightful noise
outside his window about 2 I'M, destroying
sleep
THE old gent finally got up, went to the
window to scare him away. Scat, scat, shoe,
shoop he called to the bird.
And the saucy little mocker merely chirped
right back at him, Scat, scat, shoo shoo-'
and remained. The old gentleman went back
to bed in disgust.
THAT story is really typical of them. The
mocker, as you know, is Florida's State bird.
Yours, N. 81
MANY tongued mimic" LIS the translation of
this birds scientific name
He Is the same wherever you find him. Even
out West they have mocker slightly larger
and paler than ours, but with exactly the
same abilities and traits
No imitator of any other bird, the mocker
stands on his own two feet, where in Florida or
Washington, D. G.
He always wins friends and influences people.
He stays around all year, although it is sus-
pected that his mate retires to the South for
the cold months.
He will always come to your yard for raisins,
any type, seeded, seedless, large, small.
The best way is to throw them out into the
grass at the same spot each day, or place them
along a porch railing.
The Knockers will call your attention to any
lack, after the habit has been established.
They peer in the window, or fly repeatedly to
the rail.
Some of them, as might be expected, seem
much more gentle than others. Now and then
bully mockingbird will keep all other species
away from the food
The best way to solve this problem is to put
out especially selected fare for the mocker
alone. If his table can be arranged on the
other side of the house, so much the better
Raisns, doughnuts, apple are the best lures.
This is happy, courageous creature, always
defending its own to the best of its ability,
and never hesitating at the size of the foe,
whether it be other bird cat, dog or human
being.
The resentment that humans sometimes
build up against birds protecting their young
Is hard to explain.
A moments thought should show any one
that birds usually mind their own business
very well, and that If they attack people, there
must be, at least in their own minds, some
very good reason for it.
No one should resent, after a seconds sur
prise, the attack Of q bird It Is not the birds
We have to fear In this world.