Evening star., 1948-01-27
This and That
By Charles ESTraceUeU
ARLINGTON. Va.

Dear Sir:
IT have been nightly reader Of your column
for years, and I am indebted to you for the
identification of many birds and many happy
incidents of your readers, but tonight I was
fit to be tied Upon reading Of the correspond
ent who wanted to know how to get rid OF
blue jays
Being an apartment house dweller, we can
not have regular feeding station; however,
we do throw all our spare bread and suet
scraps to the birds on the ground. During
the summer we had red-headed woodpeckerS,
jays, redbirds and the always present sparrows
Nov we have an occasional blue jay, and
when he arrives late and the bread is sorta
gone, we rush to put out more just for him.
IT think the jay one Of Gods wonders, not
only in coloring but in his sense OF hun,or; he
Is truly clown and I regard him as the
sentinel of the bird world; his warning cry
is the AFRAID alarm Of that world.
"How any one can resent him Is truly
beyond me.
1--WE have huge crowd of starlings that
stop off about every other night on their way
into Washington. would estimate there are
about two hundred in the crowd. I call them
the Pennsylvania avenue gang and what they
can do to a half loaf of bread in less time
than it takes to write it, is something to
behold. never fail them, as I can't think of
anything going to bed hungry.
There must be something wrong with people
that want to discriminate among their bird
friends; among people, can appreciate it, but
not birds.
II am an old blue-jay admirer, and do not
like people that want to close the door on
them. Sincerely, R. G. S."
Il n
ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
having big, noisy handsome family Of blue
jays patrolling my bird-feeding station, and
then tonight read the letter in your column
from A. de M. of Bethesda, wondering what to
do to discourage these backyard policemen
Maybe the birds in our neighborhood have
achieved an enviable state, Utopian ideal, but
have observed every day from my window a
remarkable demonstration of the 1ive-and-let-
i've philosophy
Il don't have such q great variety of
feathered guests-we live close to busy high
ways and suburban commercial development
but those have identified all feed together
in true harmony. Besides the six blue jays,
there are four pairs Of cardinals, four juncos,
one pair of chicadees, one of ttmice, numerous
starlings and sparrows and one mockingbird.
II am sure these friends wouldn't come so
often or stay so long if it were not for the ever
watchful eye of the jay bird!
His danger cry has averted more than one
backyard tragedy, and his all clear whistle
brings the birds back promptly to their inter
rupted meal.
Maybe the jay is bully in the spring, but
I~think all birds are more aggressive when en-
gagged in raising their families, and I'll put up
with the jays bullying so long as he doesn't
neglect his self-appointed task Of warning
when cats, sparrow hawks or other enemies
are around.
Sincerely. A. T. E."
-,
Here is fresh evidence, If any were needed,
that Americas blue jay has many splendid
friends, willing to speak up in defense OF Its
fair name.
In recent years the jay has convinced thou
sands Of people, by daily demonstrations right
in front of their eyes, that he is not the
villain he sometimes was painted in some of
the old bird books.
These daily appearances of his are some
thing new. comparatively speaking. In the
horse-and- buggy days, people thought they had
to go on hikes in wood and field to see" the
BIRDS but today many thousands Of people
are Turing them to their own yards.
1t Is here In the outdoor home theater, that
the blue jay, with his beauty. sense Of hunor
and downright good conduct has won friends
and Influenced people TO stand up for him.