Evening star., 1947-12-01
This and That
Bu Charles f. Trace1DeU

Bluebirds in winter will be new idea to
many people living in Washington and vicinity
but to S. G. S. of Silver Spring, Md, 1t is an
accomplished fact
I'VE had unexpected guests arrive for break
fast this morning he writes.
THE first pair Of bluebirds-what . thrill!
"Of course we enjoy all the birds, most of
those you mention coming to our window feed
ing tray. But perhaps the bluebirds come
closest to our hearts.
I'VE must be in the bluebird zone, because
we have been favored with many of them in
the past two or three years-at times the tray
has been filled with the beautiful creatures.
Your column brings us and our neighbors
much enjoyment. If there was nothing else in
The Star of interest to us, expect we would
still subscribe to the paper for your column" "
"coNNEcT1our AVENUE.
"Our bird feeding station, a sixth-story VIM
dow sill above the roar of traffic, has been
a constant source of JOY to us. We've had
chickadees, titmice, cardinals, sparrows, hordes
OF them, and Starlings.
"In the spring the cardinals brought the
young birds to the window sill for feeding
1 should say led them or showed them the
way. We had several family groups.
Recently we've had new and strange guests.
They are about the size of startling, with
breast, head and back mottled or speckled,
brown wings, long sharp bills and black eyes.
IF there were patch Of red on the head,
I'd think they were woodpeckers. or flickers,
though I've not been able to see the yellow
under the wings. Could they be young f1ickers? !?
Eve look forward to your column in The
Star and have greatly enjoyed the letters sent
in and your helpful and interesting reaction
to them. Sincerely, v. s. R."
The birds "the size of starlings," with mottled
breast, head and back are-starlings!
Young starlings with lusty appetites, and
hearty voices, always demanding to be fed by
others, even by mother sparrows.
These speckled youngsters are often not
recognized, they look SO different from their
fathers and mothers.
When it comes to being cry babies, they
quite take the cake-or at least the bread
which is one of their favorite foods.
Persons who put out bread crumbs for the
birds in the cold will almost always draw
Starlings.
So if one does not want this large vigorous
and intelligent creature, he should by no means
put out bread in any form.
But, of course, if he understands that 8
startling is just as hungry as any other wild bird
in fact may be hungrier. since his temperature
is perhaps one or two degrees higher than thai
of most species, he will not worry too mucf
about attracting a few starlings.
He will discover that these are interesting
has been heaped upon their heads that many
persons will not be in the least fair minded
about them.
Actually, the starting is quite bird-h'
is one of the worlds most wonderful flyers
and is very intelligent
Since the world of men values intelligence
and flying ability, it is only fair to value then
in the birds. If so, the starting must be &C
cepted, and when he is, he is seen to be
great deal more than his detractors have sal.
he is. Thus we see again that propaganda
| especially adverse propaganda against some
| thing or somebody, is to be viewed with sus
picion, because so often it is unfair, unneces
| sary and unintelligent.
The starting as well rs the bluebird is WORT
| cultivating, to find out what makes it what
is; If the friend of birds will do this to the bes
| of his ability in all fairness, he may be sur
| prised to find out how many good qualitie
| the starting has. though he is. in all truth, n
bluebird.