Evening star., 1948-08-23
This and That
: By Charles E. Trace1DeH

great many people knew already what the
smithsonian Institution announced recently,
that the mockingbird is moving northward,
being well known now in New England and re-
ported in southern Canada.
Wherever you find him, the mocker is fine
interesting specimen. He knows what he is
about, and spends his winters where he spends
MS summers, In ever-increasing numbers
For many years, now, Washingtonians have
had the pleasure of feeding mockingbirds in
winter.
Often there Is one specimen who manages to
orlVe other W1ntering songsters from feeding
stations He is regarded by rate householders
as a "dog-in-the- manager"
Usually, If they wait few days. the mocker
grows tired of his police efforts, and reverts to
his normally happy self.
X
1t is believed that most of the mockingbirds
wintering in this locality are males
Some bird lovers believe that the lady mock
ers have too much sense to stay here in the
cold.
Be that as 1t may, the birds that remain here
are fine specimens. Usually, it is necessary to
see both sexes side by side before it is possible
to tell one from the other. Most often the
mother bird is slightly paler.
The grays of the mocker are much like those
of the catbird, with which some persons con-
fuse it. But a catbird is rarity here, in VIM
ter, although now and then one does stick
around.
The mockingbird shows white when it flies
This Is its most distinguishing mark. Its song
while distinctive beloved the land over is not
too different from that of the catbird except
that the latter bird is not so likely to sing at
night.
Night singing of our mockingbird is great
feature.
Even here. however, there are some persons
who insist on kicking.
What right has any bird they want to know
to keep honest folk awake at night?
The truth is that many birds sing or at least
chrp, during the dark hours, especially on
moonlight nights.
Most of the l9 sparrows that come here chirp
to themselves during the dark hours and can
be heard easily when they sleep close to a
house.
These are SOFT reminiscent sort of chirps
subdued, soft-pedal, as if the creature were try
ing over its notes for the morrow
Our mockingbird likes raisins. doughnuts
and suet the year around.
He will peck at an apple cut in half
All these are good for the cold days. when
the bird must be hard put to find something
to eat.
Fortunately for him. he does not have many
competitors of his own kind from November
through March.
Usually the birds feed on berried shrubs as
long as these last. They are very fond of poke
berries
We keep big poke berry bush growing in
the yard for no other purpose. The poke bush
is not very ornamental, and is easily blown
down in summer storms.
The berries started to turn color several
weeks ago. From now on until gone, they will
be the target of mockingbirds, sparrows, vari-
Gus warblers coming through on their way
south, and others.
Scientific investigation bears out the common
belief that the mocker has remarkable range
in initiating other birds.
One specimen studied could initiate 80 bird
songs, so bird calls, and the notes of frog and
cricket.
It cannot be said that the limitations are
really good limitations. The attempts at the
wood thrush notes, for instance, are mostly
very poor. The listener can tell what the mock
er is trying to do. but mostly the notes are
really mockeries, rather than true limitations
Even the mocker. wonder bird that he is,
cannot initiate the wonderful character of the
thrush song. No one should expect him to-
of course.
The mockingbird is known all over Washing
ton and nearby Maryland and Virginia. He
likes home gardens, and delights in bringing up
his children in them.
When he decides to stay all winter, the least
we can do for him is to put out the food he
likes, -