Evening star., 1948-03-10
This and That
By Charles E. TraceDell
FALLS CHURCH, Va.


Dear Sir:
"I am much interested in bird life, especially
the robin. came here some years ago from
Western Pennsylvania in the vicinity of Laurel
Mountains.
Many old-time residents of those mountains
claim that most of the robins in that section
never migrate, but stay under the thick laurel
bushes, where they find protection and food
during the deepest SHOWS.
1--WE had good chance to watch pair of
robins build nest right on my window sill. It
was second story window with broad sill,
with an arm extending about 18 inches from
1t to support an aerial wire.
"The male bird was seen to hop around
there for Gay, then the next morning I saw
him bringing some mud and spreading it on
the sill.
II became interested, and as worked nights
and came home early in the morning, had
chance to watch him every day.
Next he brought some small sticks and
started to build framework.
II lowered the shade, and cut hole in it to
watch, also to keep out inquisitive children and
-neighbors.
After the robin built the outer frame, he
lined it with some leaves and grass, and then
brought some more soft mud, and smoothed it
out by whirling his body around in it until it
became real smooth.
After that, he lined with fine grass and
string and hair until it became real nest.
Then he disappeared for several days, and
I thought he got scared away, but about the
third day he showed up again with his mate.
~
"She inspected the nest, sat in it, and
adjusted few things, and the next morning
I found two eggs in the nest, and another
egg the following day.
1.-The next day she began to sit on them,
leaving nrlV for short Oeri0dS
After 13 days, one morning she was stand
ing up in the nest and I saw one young robin
Matched and another picking his way through
the shell.
After they were out, she removed the empty
shells from the nest After two more days,
when the last egg didn't hatch, she removed
it, too.
"As it was early in April, the weather was
very cold, and one of the birds died, presume
from the cold, and she removed It, too. I
found 1t later on the roof OF the building.
"I saw her and the mate taking turns feed
ing the one that survived
After about week, decided to help and
bought some small raisins and laid them on
the sill when neither of the older birds was
around.
Il watched when Mrs. Robin came back and
found the raisins. She took few herself,
then dropped one into the open mouth of
the baby.
"It disappeared, so she gave him another one.
Altogether, she gave him seven raisins the
first time thought he would choke, but he
seemed to take them in stride
After that, laid out small handful every
morning The mother didn't mind me at ali,
but nopped about 18 inches from my hand.
After closed the window, she hoped right
back and had breakfast with her baby.
"In about 18 days, the baby hoped up on
the end of his nest and took off with both
parents following him.
Il enjoyed the experience Later I brought
the nest inside. It was masterpiece of
architecture. Sorry it got lost when I moved
to Virginia.
'It sure increased my admiration for the
intelligence of the robin. =
Sincerely yours, H"
1t is impossible to watch nesting bird with
out admiration, wonder and some awe
The birds soon learn to trust a human
watcher.
1t is too bad-much too bad-that all ami
mails, birds and even fish are so often betrayed
by humanity
Can humans expect humans not to betray
each other, when they all betray the confidence
Of the animals?