Evening star., 1948-02-26
This and That
Bg Charles E. TraceweH

That first robin Is always being reported.
prominent automobile man saw one Febru-
ary Is, and a resident of Falls Church, Va, the
afternoon before.
Over in Georgetown, woman was cleaning
kitchen walls, when she suddenly looked up at
sound at the window.
Old Man Robin was perched there, on the
outside looking in!
These reports had been preceded by accounts
Of robins seen in January. Usually the latter
are of birds which have wintered here
1t is not always realized that few robins
stay around Washington all year. Most of
them are in Rock Greek Park where they find
shelter appropriate to them.
4 xx
The first robin is always an event.
Friends of birds find something personal and
satisfactory in seeing lliE.
The satisfaction Is never complete, however,
until one tells about it to others.
It Is possible to pass up the arrival Of the
first wren, or catbird, without telling, but the
robin is different
He is the great spring bird, the genera!
favorite
An intensely American bird, he, with his
chesty way of walking, and that downward stab
at the earth for his food.
The robin and his worm not only are part
of legend, but they become real part of the
daily life of thousands of people.
Here is real bird feeding of the natural sort,
the bird on his own not dependent upon
humanity.
The robin and his worm
No picture in the world, perhaps, is more
familiar, unless 1t be the squirrel with his
acorn.
Old Man Robin cocks hts head-and then
down goes that bill.
The legs stiffen, the strong neck muscles pull,
and out comes the worm, wr1ggling, to dis
anpear down the birds throat
Natural food is, after all, best for the birds,
Just as it is best for humans.
The fishin worm Is prime robin fare.
Other species eat them, too, when they are
not too big and tough.
The bigger they come, the better for a
robin.
He is a large bird, in fact has been eaten
more than once in pie.
Even, today, protected in the South there
are usually arrests of robin killers at the time
when millions OF these birds have their annual
get together before flying North.
Il =
once dispersed, the members of the great
robin regation-estimated at about 4,000.-
600 birds-fly North in small groups of from SO
to 100 birds, at times 200 specimens
These birds break up into still smaller bands
when they get to familiar territory.
Usually they fly down, about dozen, onto
the suburban lawn in the afternoon.
Unless one sees them Immediately, 1t is too
late to catch them in group, for they shortly
split up again, and each bird finds its old
territory.
Intense cold. followed by a few days of
warmth, sends many of the robins along ahead
of time.
Then returning cold catches them, and they
must make the best of things.
Raisins are one food they like and every
human interested in these fine birds should
keep some on hand, to put out.
They can be placed In the grass, at the
same point every day, or on porch rail.
Coconut cake is another speciality for the
robins but it is one that not many persons
will be able to give them off-hand.
Don't feel too upset, If snow and ice catch
the robins again. They are tough, hardy birds
and are able to "tAke IL" In the weather line.