Evening star., 1949-04-25
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. Trace,reu

By Charles T. Traceweu
This and That out here on Grafton
street, in Chevy Chase. Md. has been fine
column for the interest of both my husband
and for me since our return TO our home
In 1916 after retirement.
IT was hasty to get the wren house out
this year, and when the warm days that
suggested spring were near by, We ma the
wren house rented. and by a strange pair
of tiny wrens ca. not the regular standhys.
Easily this cunning pair decided to slip
right in. after many disputes-severai spar
rows argued down. other sparrows in hope
they would make the siide-in. slide-out.
But to write you-for the strange new
occupants-surely these are wrens, schar-
acteristics the same. the hitting here and
therein and out-over to the big apple
tree-and we wonder just how the catalogue
Of wrens describes. by what name. this un-
usual pair.
'They are dove gray-white under wing
and q lovely black-coal black head piece
hooded-with q crescent Of black under the
chin. Am being curious as to asking what
we might find by some library bird book?
And also not too clever at describing these!
"Will surely hope you have the bird cata-
logued in your fine knowledge OF these
cheerful wingers. They all would sing more
to add to my love of their presence. had
to take up the use Of an ear aid. since recent
deafness only gave me sounds like crickets
a-plenty, so with mockingbirds doing all the
charms before one and scolding terribly II
do tell my tale. how they eat up all the
raisins here and at each home near by.
II get nice lecture for my e1orts-but
with a cat or so-only at dawn the nice
rush of blue jays and cardinals-So Tar
have to hustle for crumbs, seeds and scraps;
robins-now agree to crumb and sun
flower seed-all whatever seems out for
feasting and two bird baths-the splash is
worth my love to have eyes to see and an
aid to hear.
Again repeat. we enjoy your column
and any topic is read with appreciation
shared and meant to share. expect you
can advise us as to our deep interest. I'm
not regretful we put up the wren house 30
early. sincerely, .. u. Z.
The birds are chickadees. than which
there is none nicer.
Even a wren must take little back seat
when it comes to competition with chicka-
dee.
This mite is often called the cheerful
chickadee, and the adjective is well de-
served.
has, no more than any bird. the power OF
laughter. The Jay comes as near to 1t rs
any. Birds do not laugh. but some Of them.
by their manners and appearance. In COM
binations, their types of actions and sounds
do manage to make the beholder feel that
they have q sense Of fun. in the human
sense of that word.
The orthodox chickadee house Is usually
made with an entrance / "a inches in diam
eter. and the wren house just / inch. but
often in practice the entrances are made
larger. so that the chickadee can get In
wren house.
pecker holes, or in natural >cayitles, oid
stumps or fence posts.
Openings to their liking are filled with
grass, leaves moss. and are lined with hair.
when available. fur Of rabbits and the like.
and small feathers.
From 4 TO eggs are laid. two nestinss.
the eggs white. spotted with chestnut and
lilac-gray
This IS grand little bird only ss4 inches
long, but well able to endure the coldest
storms of winter.
The bird has several songs. one Of them
including. 80 strange is natures music.
perfect phrase from Hawaiian love song!
Despite his small size. the chickadee ID
4 great insect eater, doing large amount
OF GOOD by consuming small caterpillars and
eggs of the tent caterpillar moths.
Plant lice and eggs are ~greedily taken.
Also various weevils. In summer the bird
also eats small amount Of seeds and pulp
of wild fruit.
II may be seen that In addition TO his
appearance and charming ways. the cheer
ful chickadee is also an aid to mankind.
Paper milk bottle caps filled with seeds.
and hung BY small strings to branch. make
perfect chickadee feeders One Of them
perched there makes as nice . small sight
as you VIII ever -.