Evening star., 1949-01-12
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TraceWeH
MOUNT RAINIER, Nd.

n, q.
my Dear Friend:
Il thought you'd like to know about our
Bully Boy who has been our guest now for
two years. This mockingbird dimes with us
each meal on currants and suet and corn muf-
fms; his table is right outside our own dining
room windows.
"Yes at first he had many lovely friends,
cardinals, blue Jays and all the beautiful birds
out here, but he grew very tired of them and
suddenly he started one-man campaign and
got rid Of them, and he really chased them
far away, but we throw their food on the
ground and I hope they get enough.
"Bully Boy has raised three families, and
has introduced us to all Of his little ones. We
have grown to love him very much in spite OF
his dynamic ways.
Now he is trying his best to get rid Of
Mistletoe our canary, whom Santa Claus
brought us on Christmas morn
"Mistletoe comes out for walk each morn
ing and tries to make friends with Bully Boy
through the windoWpane, but no, Bully Boy
just doesn't care for him, and flies at him
against the window.
Oh how We wish we could let him in! It
was showing one morning and he looked SO
cold out there guarding his food Yes we
would bring them all in, but they are joys we
might term as out Of this world and may
God let us enjoy them long, long time.
I'VE are so fond Of your articles. They are
wonderful to soothe the tired mind after
hard days work.
May you have a happy and prosperous New
Year Sincerely, E. H."
This is, undoubtedly, the right way to &C
cept belligerent mockingbird.
Instead Of fussing and fuming, when q
mocker begins to chase the other winterng
birds away, this correspondent sees the fun
in the thing.
1t is reassuring to believe-and we believe
correctly-that such mocker does not really
keep the other birds from the food.
After all, few Of us can keep watch all day
long, minute after minute, hour after hour.
The small birds perch in the shrubbery, and
when the mocker relaxes his vigilance, down
they come to the feast.
No matter how much the mocker stands
guard, there are bound to be moments when
he flies away.
Then the little birds come to the food, and
even If driven away shortly they are back
every time they find old Bully Boy away.
In this way, all can eat, although not as
much, perhaps, as they might desire. Probably
a little less food is as good for birds as it is
for humans.
Seldom in nature-except at feeding sta
tion-will birds be able to gobble, gobble
gobbe.
Mostly it is matter of look and find and
this is good for them. The natural method of
searching for something to eat is, no doubt,
JIe UeSl, DuC LldG uOeS IlOG IIledll CIldG plcHIy
is not good.
Plenty is good-every living thing knows it.
1t is merely the handling, or rather mis-
handling, of plenty that causes the trouble.
The well-stocked feeding station may become
the perfect handling of the lever normal
granary." At least for birds The fact that
they eat as much and as often as they can is
all right. They are, after all, birds; their
alimentary canals are only few inches long.
Mans are % feet more or less. And that
makes difference.
One may sympathize with our correspond
entS desire to take the birds indoors. 1t
would be fun, at least for time, and it has
been DONE especially with mockingbirds. This
is a bold one and may be induced to walk
through an open, screenless window easily
enough, even to hop around table in search
of food. All in ALL however, birds are best
left outdoors. That is their rightful place, as
nature intended. There are plain disadyan-
tages, both from the human and bird stand
point of having them inside. 1t is best to
accept them as outside guests. They are much
more at home there, and enjoy their food
best in the open where they have the oppor-
tunty of flying out and away at a moments
notice. This is the natural plan, and wild
birds thrive best under it.
The Gagged bird is another creature. He has
been made used to confinement through many
generations, and finds the space of a room a
great adventure. Canaries even seek conf1ne-
ment, If they manage to get out, and are
unhappy outdoors with the wild and wilder
birds of the open.