Evening star., 1949-01-11
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. TrdcetUell
"32nd STREET.

Dear Sir:
with reference to your recent discourse on
the mocker like him, too, but
He took much Of the Joy out OF my holiday
period.
AT the back of the house, have two feed
ing stations, one OF pyramidal glass sides
close to the window in which put sunf1ower
seeds and peanuts, and wooden Winter feed
ing box some distance from the house Tor mixed
bird seed, peanuts, for all eomers. sparrows,
squirrels, etc.
Occasionally bread, seeds Of cantaloupe,
watermelon, in season, are included.
For two years have had O regular circus
at the window box-cardinals titmice, nut
matches, chickadees. and occasionally other
birds.
"A bit of suet above the box attracts the
woodpeckers and Is relished by the chickadees
and some others.
"At times there will be three or four species
at this station or lowering about waiting their
turn Some idea of their abundance will be
gained from the fact that they consumed
three or four handsful Of sunflower seed and
two or more handsful OF shelled peanuts day.
"Now the place Is as devoid Of birds as the
Sahara desert is Of vegetation-all because
added few raisins and Mr. Mocker took over
standing guard, diving at any bird approaching
the area. have returned to feeding Mr.
Mocker on the front porch but he hasn't given
up patrolling the back, even eating some Of the
peanuts. which was new to me-
Incidentally, outside the window below the
suspended feeding box there 10 large bar
berry bush.
For weeks I pitted my ingenuity against
two squirrels to keep them out OF this special
feeding station without harm to them, all TO
no avail until my sudden appearance at the
window compelled each Of them to Jump with
out time to look around.
Each landed squarely in the barberry bush
and has not been back since, some six months
ago.
II still have my fingers crossed, expecting
curiosity to overcome their fear. They like
unfoasted peanuts. Each year purchase about
20 pounds direct from one of the farmers, q
food very attractive to them.
Very truly yours, L. r."
1t was probably not just the mockingbird that
kept the birds away.
The holiday season often has that effect.
This is too bad, because during the holidays
more people have an opportunity to be good
to the birds, to enjoy them, and to become ac-
quainted with their habits.
1t is something of mystery what keeps them
away at this time.
We believe 1t is the peculiar noise made by
air rifles still popular as gifts.
Then, too, boys bring out last years air
rifles, even If they have not used them during
the year.
This popping going on, even at distance,
alarms the birds.
All birds regardless Of species, have come
to have a real fear, and properly, Of mans guns.
1t Is true that some Judge ruled that the air
rifle is a toy not deadly weapon. Probably
he was right, from strictly held legal view-
point.
But the truth is that an sir rife can put
out an eye, and might even kill one If 1t
managed to hit at just the precise spot Steel
BIB shot are better than lead, since the latter
cannot be taken out of an eye with magnet.
The birds know nothing Of the respective
merits Of steel and lead bullets.
It Is the noise, the sound, that frightens
them
Another reason why songbirds tend to dis
appear from well stocked feeding stations to
which they have been accustomed is the larger
number Of persons feeding them during the
holidays.
This might account for their leaving the
familiar place. And ones own particular birds,
if lust around the corner, would thus leave
ones own feeding stations peculiarly bare, at
the very time one might want them most.
We would advise our correspondent to keep
raisins out of the regular feeding places. They
do best on porch railing or the like.
Mockingbirds prefer them to anything else,
and will come where they are. Also try the
lure of doughnuts, and apples cut in half.
The belligerent rnocker is something to see,
in his own right. Usually he tires Of his sport.
Even a, his worst, he cannot keep the other
birds out all the time, though he may seem