Evening star., 1948-04-30
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUell
WESLEY HEIGHTS,


II have blue jays nesting outside my window.
"They are just starting the nest, and would
like to know If there is anything can do to
help them.
Some years ago was indifferent to jays, in
fact even hostile to them, but by reading your
column over the years, I have come to a
clearer realization of the value of these birds.
Now join the chorus of praise. would
like to help them, If can, but have no idea
what to do or even If there is any aid possible.
The jays in our neighborhood have never
failed to interest me, since I saw the light. I
hear them in the early morning, and often
watch them come to our feeding station Just
outside our picture window.
The jays have selected curving bough, or
branch, and from an upper window they afford
good show.
Let me know, If you WILL what to do for
them, if anything. Perhaps am too solicitous.
Sincerely, j. G."
There is not much human can do for
nesting birds, except to give them some measure
OF protection and later to provide them with
ground meat for the babies and themselves
Too much interference at nesting time some
times causes birds to give over the site.
Many persons swear that robins, for instance,
will desert nest, eggs and all, if they see
people looking at them from too close position
Others assert that wrens leave the eggs, but
IN the latter case, closer watching will reveal
that the birds are simply resting from the nest
Often the birds will be gone for hours at
time, leaving the watcher to wonder if they
ever will return.
Close inspection will reveal in all cases, that
the mother wren simply is trying to fool the
watchers
She will be seen to fly into nearby shrub
ana II she thinks no one Is watching her, to the
nest Immediately
pJt eLa
go to the nest, but pretend to be Indifferent
to it.
sometimes people with the best intentions
In the world take the eggs out of the nest and
give them away, when all the time the mother
bird is waiting for the human element to leave
the neighborhood.
This is sad bit of business. and would
MEYER 4ts happen If the watcher would watch just
No one should remove eggs from nests. 1t
not only is against the law but it is cradle
robbing at its worst
The jays make fine parents. They take good
care OF their young, keep them in the nest for
ABOUT four weeks after Matching, which takes
about 16 days.
During all this time the male is on hand to
drive intruders away
sometimes the male jay becomes almost as
obnoxious to paSsersby as the mockingbird
He will fly down, though no man pursueth
ana peck IuIlouSly at the hat OF any one below
Sometimes this causes real CONSERVATION
and occasionally indignation although no true
friend OF birds will permit themselves to
suffer much
One has but to think how small the jay is
after all, to understand what a brave fellow
ne is.
Jays need no particular aid, except their
friends might keep an unusually careful watch
over the yard, and run away any cats or dogs
seen to be interested. Dogs seem to be able
to see jays more easily than most birds, and
may snag the parent birds while on the ground.
Hawks, too, make speciality of catching Jays
at this time There is no more mournful sight
for a friend of birds than a small pile of
feathers that once was a jay
A saucer of ground meat after the babies
are Matched will provide real food for them,
also something for the parents. All young
birds are fed on insects, and ground meat takes
their place. Cardinals Knockers, song SPAR
rows and others, including both common
sparrows and starlings, find ground beef just
what they need.
Some care must be taken, of course, to
keep both cats and dogs out Of the birds
saucer of meat. This food is best placed out
in the afternoon. and If put on the ground .
sort OF inform3l guard must be kept over it.