Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-10-30
This and That
By Charles z. Trace,pell

BETHESDA, Md.
Dear Sir:
What can you tell me about mockingbirdsa
Do they stay here all winter? There is a
beauty that comes TO MY front foundation
planting where there are some shrubs with
berries on them.
Il never realized these birds were so good
looking, until this one. started to come around,
and be so close where could watch him. He
nips of the berries, flies in and flies out, and
has very pleasant sort Of face.
From letters of some Of your correspond
ents, from time to time had come to think
the mockingbird must be an ugly looking fellow,
and had never paid much attention to him
in the yard.
Nov I get chance to see him close up,
hope he stays, and would like to know If there
Is anything I can do to help him
Sincerely, M. H."
There can be little question that some mock
ers exceed in facial beauty others Of the species
The same thing holds true, Of course, Of hu-
man beings
Especially, the ladies.
The mocker is a typical bird. with q good
show of feathers, nice colors. with some white
showing when he flies, and possessed Of q
clean build or construction.
He usually carries his feathers in q tidy
fashion.
His face. however, depends upon the indi-
vidual bird
Some of them have the sweet face Of which
the writer speaks. Others somehow fail to
attract the observer.
1t would be pleasant If we could think the
lady birds the ones with the pleasant faces, but
in most cases 1t would be just the opposite.
Mostly the male Knockers stay here during
the winter. Some people have said that the
lady birds have more sense than to remain.
However that may be, the mocker that stays
most often Is a male.
Sometimes he will be found to be rather
belligerent in his actions, chasing other and
smaller birds out Of feeding stations where
there really is nothing he likes.
This typical dog-in-the-manger attitude
tends to cause MANY human watchers to be
angry at him.
In most cases. however, If they will stop
worrying about the matter, the mockingbird
within few days will give over the sport.
For one thing, there are too many small
birds for him to keep track Of them all
Twenty fly out at hi approach; half a
dozen fly back In again, the moment his back
Is turned
After all, he must eat, and he cannot do so
II he is guarding eedessly-a tray Of grains
too hard for him to eat
There lies the key to inducing him to be a
good bird.
The thing to do is not to grow angry at
him, but to provide him with some of the
foods he likes
These include raisins, bread even coconut
cake, together with apple slices, and other
soft fruits
Berries Of all kinds, gathered from the woods
II necessary, are grist to his mill.
Poke berries are favorite.
The ink-colored Juice is well liked After
the berries are dried, they still are acceptable,
and more easily kept
The thing to do is to establish a feeding
place on the other side Of the house.
He can fly, Of course, and well, and no
doubt will 60 around and poster the smaller
birds, now and then, but in time, say three
or four days. after he has found where his
own kind Of food is, he will let them alone.
His actions are merely reflex Of his nest
ing time activities, when he is one Of the most
careful of parents.
His defensive actions include slanting down
| at cats, dogs and even human beings. At that
| time, there Is nothing he is afraid Of
When he remains here in the cold, he may
| or may not still want to chase things. II he
| does, do not pay too much attention to it. He
| will not hurt any one.
He Is o grand fellow to have around the
| house In the winter. And more often than
not the observer will be surprised. perhaps, to
note what really 1ns bird face hs has.