Evening star., 1948-02-18
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Tr1ce1Dell

Dear Sir: T
IT have been reader of your column for
long time and am much interested in at
tracing birds to my yard.
"On grape trellis by the kitchen window
there is feeding station on which I keep
sunf1ower seeds, raisns, bits of bread and oc-
casionally apple.
Mailed to the trellis, at point where the
birds can get good foothold while pecking
at it. keep piece OF suet.
"At about 10 o'clock this morning I could
hardly believe my eyes when I saw house
wren pecking away industriously at the suet.
II was so skeptical I went to get the bird
book to verify my identification, and there
can be absolutely no mistaking the fact that
it was house wren.
THE bars on the wings and tail were very
plain. The wren was evidently very hungry,
for it stayed and ate continuously for fully Is
minutes.
Finally a sparrow grew little impatient
and hoped up beside it, but it didn't bulge
for about three minutes more.
"Is this something unusual for wren to
be here at this season, or is 1t usual ana
have Just missed seeing them before? Tnere
have often been wrens in the wren house IN
the yard.
when the wren left put out another hand
full of raisins, as the supply was gone. had
scarcely closed the door when a mocklngblrd
arrived. And then in rapid succession we mao
our usual string of visitors, chickadee at the
suet. nuthatch to the feeding station, appar-
entlv for raisin, tufted titmouse after SUM-
flower seed, and two female cardinals.
Can YOU suggest any other household foods
that we might feed the birds? Often bit OF
our own food is much easier to supply the blrds
than seed foods for which we must make
trip to feed store or pet shop Yet want
to feed them all I can.
Sincerely, E. P. A.
This correspondent was quite right about
not believing her eyes,
What she saw was not house wren. which
does not come here until April, but Carolina
wren, or possibly a winter wren.
Roth of the latter are here during the cold.
The Carolina wren looks just as much ike
wren as the house wren, but Is CONSIDERABLY
larger. Without the smaller one for COM
parison, he would not, OF course, look very
large, since he is only big Tor wren.
He is the fellow with the merry Wh1rlagl
song It is loud, clear, giving the impression
of a wheel in motion. Once heard ana recog-
nized, it is never forgotten.
The winter wren is very small and very shy
and even when around is not very likely to
come to feeding station.
Those who want to supplement- their seed
and grain rations for the birds might try by
buying package of dry dog food and stretch
ing" it with water.
An enthusiastic person called the other day
with this idea declaring that pounds OF
dog food in this way could be turned into
about 7 pounds of food for the birds
The dog food, Of course contains meat in
some form, with plenty of carbohydrates-the
main need of the birds in the cold-minerals,
vitamins, ETC.
This is a suggestion worth trying.
In mixing it up, the batter may have added
to it some cornmeal, or any other stray food
available.
It may be placed in regular feeding station,
on a pan or bowl on the ground or just on
the ground itself.
If it freezes. it is best broken into small bits
for the next serving.
The chances are that very little of it will
be given the opportunity to freeze.
Starlings, in particular. which like both meat
and bread in the cold will go" for this type
of food.
So those persons who find these big birds both
amusing and interesting may like to try out this
idea.
Any householder can experiment with bits of
leftovers in this way. Even clean garbage
may be used, but nothing that Is unfit for
human consumption should be offered the birds.
Leftover stale breadstuffs, unless mouldy,
may be used. The need for Matchmaking foods
Is paramount with the birds in winter.