Evening star., 1948-06-02
This and That
Bu Charles f. Tr1ce1p
CHEVY CHASE, Md.

Dear Sir:
Your column has been an inspiration as
well as an education for me for years Almost
you have persuaded me to welcome the squirrel
to our feeding station.
AFTER nndlng that he pre-empted the stump
where we put seeds, had feeder hoisted on
l2-foot pipe, just outside the kitchen window,
and for two days the birds held undisputed
sway there; but, to my unbounded surprise
the squirrel learned to take the pipe up and
down. with as much ease as a tree
Furthermore, he isn't satisfied with the
watermelon seeds and bread, but he takes also
the raisins, which decidedly have not his name
on them. We like the cardinals, catbirds and
robins to enjoy them
I was greatly excited recently to see a
tiny bird on the grass. 1t seemed to be a
bright green with vivid red spot on the head
Then saw small very slender blue bird
with dark tail feathers and black head. The
body was a brilliant blue
Gorgeous grackles with iridescent plumage
come to our feeding station. AS for the many
varieties OF sparrows, We love them ALL How
may distinguish the song sparrow from his
English cousin? Is he the much-striped one?
us there a robin with a black-and- white
speckled breast? Such bird has me puzzled,
for 1t didn't look one bit like thrush.
Many, many thanks, L. B."
p. S.-NJw comes letter from q friend
who warns me not to feed the birds in summer
or they will not eat the insects She adds.
No wonder the Japanese beetles got your dog
wood and silver birch trees. How about it?"
The small green bird with the red spot on
the head probably was ruby crowned kinglet
The bird OF blue, probably an indigo bunt-
ing. And the robinlike bird with spotted breast
"a baby robin, sure enough! The spotted
chest shows its relation to the thrush family
Our robin is not really robin, at least in
the English sense, but a member Of the thrush
tribe. AS the young robin grows, 1t loses its
spots.
As for the sparrows, the one with the stripes
on the head is the song sparrow. 1t also is
distinguished by its very friendly ways If one
remains seated on the lawn song sparrow
will come to within few feet, and not mind
head turning in the least. Robins are perhaps
the 'scariest" of birds, in this respect. simple
turn OF the head will cause one to fly away.
1t Is amazing the number of excuses people
think up, all with the best will in the world to
avoid feeding the birds in summer
A favorite is the idea that if one does, the
birds will not catch insects.
Actually, nothing could keep birds from eat
ing insects. Insects are not only live fresh food
crammed with moisture, vitamins, protein and
minerals, but they move, which always Is in
triguing to wild things. Also, insects are the
baby food" of all baby birds. Even the seed
eaters feed their young on insects. =
Bird feeding by humans is, after all, of only
recent introduction. Farmers and others still
think it is all very silly. Birds have been eating
insects for thousands of years.
After a winter of dry foods they are only
too glad to get insects and worms. You couldn't
keep them from 'em! They will eat food put
out, especially raisins and ground meat but
the demand for fresh. live food is so compel
ling, both from eager babies and hard working
parents, that supplemental food is Just sup
Elemental.
1t is impossible, perhaps, for a human being
to understand the lure of something moving
as food. We no longer demand that our food
move, but the birds, animals, insects and fishes
like to see a meal on the go before they take
1t. This is natures way.
As for birds eating japanese beetles, only a
few have managed it, as yet. Starlings 60 for
them, so do the humble English sparrows. But
it would take more than all the birds put to-
gether to rid us of these hard -shelled invaders,
there are so many Of tslem
No one should hesitate to feed the birds in
summer, If he or she wants to. The more food,
the more birds. This is automatic. The more
birds, the more insects will be eaten. 1t Is that
easy.
There Is no question that the garden where
feeding Is carried on will have from two to four
times as many birds in 1t in summer as the
garden where nature takes over completely.
The added number Of birds will more than
make up for any that shirk the task Of eating
insects.