Evening star., 1948-03-23
This and That
By Charles E. Trucewell

Spring is good time to think of placing
bird baths in the yard.
There are many hooks and crannies ideally
suited for them; the trouble is one never has
thought of them in that light, perhaps
Places where flowers do not grow readily are
good. Small creeping plants do nicely there
around the saucer of large flower pot.
These saucers are about 10 or u inches
across, and the birds love them.
No fancy pedestal, whatever its cost, appeals
more to the birds. These Saucers are about
the right depth. They are simply placed on
the ground, or might be sunk to the brim with
border Of small stones.
They should be taken in during the winter
Il n
Such little pools of water will be spotted by
migrating birds, including the warblers, who
will come down to them when they ignore
feeding stations
The famous "bird's eye view" catches a
glimpse of water every time.
There can be little question that water at
tracts more birds in summer than bird feeding
stations.
Many simple devices may be made into bird
baths. Nothing could be simpler than q
garbage can top, but it makes very effective
bird drinking and bathing place Pie pans and
other containers from the kitchen will serve.
Bowls scooped in the earth and lined with
concrete do very we'll And the stores annually
present many elaborate and effective baths
n
Placement of the bath perhaps is more i'm
portant than materials.
Most people interested in bird life come at
last to look at their problems somewhat from
the birds cWn standpoint. It is not difficult
to spot places where they would like to drink
and bathe. They do not seem to worry as
much about cats as humans do, either.
There is a comradeship in nature which man
for all his vaunted universal education, has
failed to emulate.
The sunken bath serves not only birds but
also wandering dogs, cats and turtles.
Few creatures enjoy bathing more than the
numbering tortoise. If the water is not more
than two inches deep, it will be just right for
him.
The bird bath sunk in the ground provides
natural setting for such things as prmroses
violets, myrtle, hens-and chickens, phlox SUBJ
ulate and ageratum.
Usually visitors to the yard are quite struck
by these little hooks. One sometimes is amazed
TO md that what starts out as a mere off hand
gesture turns into gem. This is one of the
real pleasures of gardening.
Placing the bird bath also means keeping it
nlied and clean. There is nothing more dis
appointing to a bird, surely, than an empty
bath.
Cleanliness may be achieved with an old
whlsk broom. The leaves and other debris
times starlings dunk" pieces of bread so that
small pieces foul the water
4
A shower bath for the cardinal must not he
forgotten. On hot summer afternoon there
is nothing he and his mate enjoy more than
the flne spray from hose falling down
through a shrub
II the spray is directed at the top of the
bush, the falling water on the leaves gives these
birds exactly the bath they prefer
Some people think red birds do not bathe at
all, but that is simply because these birds are
what might be called shy bathers They do
not like the jostling and splashing enjoyed by
robins starlings and sparrows They seldom
join in such gregarious sport. But if close
watch is kept on the bird bath the watcher
will see the redbird occasionally bathe in
digni1ed manner
The happy song sparrow is among the best
natural bathers. He prefers a small sunken
bath, into which he will dip himself time after
time, sometimes as many as so dips one after
the other, each dip taking four seconds, fol-
lowed by two seconds rest, just like the ringing
of the telephone bell.