Evening star., 1948-03-05
This and That,
Bp Charles r. TrGce1Uell
BETHESDA. MD.


Dear Sir: a.. .r ,a
Can you identity bird friend? He is about
the size of robin with back, head and tail
dark gray. wings tipped with white. breast
light gray. s-t.l
His tail is straight across the end, and
appears to bs about inches long.
Il noticed this bird after we had our first
snowfall. started putting food out for the
birds, for felt it would be hard for them to
find enough to eat while the snow covered the
ground.
This one bird was the only one who ap-
peared, but he came many times each day. He
has shown up each day, and has never missed.
discovered the stray cats were eating the
bread I put out for the birds. 80 decided to
place it on my kitchen windowsill, thinking
the cats might not climb up there to get It,.
MY bird friend found the food right away.
He is quite tame now and peeks In the window
at me when am working In the kitchen.
Very often he hops up on the SILL and If he
does not find any food, he perches there and
chirps as though to attract my attention.
when I open the door to put his food out,
he f1ies into = nearby tree and watches me.
AS soon as 60 back in the house he flies back
to the window sill and eats his food.
yesterday for the first time, I have seen
other birds come for food
After the heavy snow during the night, my
back doorstep was covered, and as did not
want to step in it, threw some bread out into
the yard, rather than place 1t in the usual place
on the window sill.
I'm about hve minutes the gray bird ap-
peared, and he had about eight or ten blue
jays with him.
They all perched in the tree outside my
kitchen door.
1T was fun to watch them, and my gray
bird surprised me. The jays, one at q time,
flew down to the ground to get some bread,
hi aoxu
ut seemed that he was fighting the jays and
if he was not, he certainly did chase them.
This happened repeatedly during the day, for
the jays were persistent, and came back q
number of times. But each time the gray bird
chased them and then he came back to get
his food
1T hope you can tell me the name Of this
bird, for have become SO interested In him,
and look for him each day.
Sincerely, M. J. NJ"
*##~
This Is mockingbird.
The gray bird showing white when he flies
is enough to identify him, but combined with
the picture OF his actions, he Is unrnHtakable.
There are scores of scores of them wintering
in Chevy Chase and Bethesda.
Perhaps no other section has SO many OF
them during the cold months.
The coming to a window sill for food
preferably raisins-and calling for attention
this Is anOJner sure sign Oh u HOckeI.
##*
YORKTOWN, VA.
Dear Sir:
I'VE have a number of Carolina wrens, and
would be so appreciative if you could give US
the dimensions of the house they should have,
size of entrance etc.
Il have followed your column for many
years, and feel you are making grand con-
tribution in defense of our feathered friends
and teaching many people to want to know
and help them.
very truly yours, L. r r."
The Carolina wren is friendly and will nest
in almost anything.
If one desires to make q house for 1t, the
dimensions are as follows:
Floor by inches; depth from top to
bottom, inches; height of hole above floor, 6
inches; diameter of entrance hole, IL inches; {;
and placement of house, to 10 feet above
ground.
This is about the same as for the house
wren except that the entrance for the latter
Ia usually given as just l inch In diameter.
Common sparrows, Of course, may dispute
the ownership of the Carolina wren house; the
lower the house is placed, say or feet from
the ground, the less likely the sparrows are to
fancy it.