Evening star., 1949-01-31
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Traceueu

An anxious note from M NJ of Thirty second
street:
Where are all the birds, including the
English sparrows?
Gould it be virus x?
Seriously yours" etc.
P. M. OF Arlington. Va. can answer that best.
Il am happy to inform you that all of nv
absence of six to eight weeks
During their strange disappearance there
was not even sparrow to be seen.
They all came back gradually
We have been having blasting all summer
below our fence and the river; they are build
ing the Mt Vernon highway.
The birds didn't like it much, neither did
the squirrels, but they stayed on, so I could
not believe they left on that account. for we
still have the blasting
"All that time kept food and water for
them stray cat caught squirrel last
summer, SO now I have tables for the food.
Inc squirrels are fat and selfish and they
get there first and lie fiat and lick the fresh
Virginia underground meal until they can
eat no more.
1T is beautiful sight to see, the flock of
cardinals IN the tree, waiting to eat they
stay until dusk.
MY large yard is always filled with birds
now; l never bother to find out what kind
they are, love them ALL
From upper Fourteenth street B r. H. writes:
Recently letter was published in your
column about dead bird being found in
milk box 1t reminded me of an experience
I had in summer.
Il transplanted some seedlings, using tall
narrow jelly glass for watering the roots.
when through, forgot the jelly glass and
the next day found it with a dead sparrow
in it.
1T was quite evident that the sparrow was
thirsty and perched on the edge of the glass
reaching down after the water in the bottom
He was unable to get out. after getting
wedged head-down in the narrow glass I am
wondering whether the small bird referred to
was seeking drink.
Il always keep water in large flower pot
saucer in the window sill for birds. found
china saucers crack when the water freezes
In winter keep pouring boiling water, little
each time, to melt the ice.
Some of your articles sound like politics.
You are so afraid of offending some one who
likes cat or pigeons or sparroWs that you are
not truthful. Editors note-Thats 'hokum
lady-we like cats, pigeons and sparrows, that's
all)
"Once or twice in December lovely bird
came that do not know 1t was shaped like
nuthatch, sawed of in the, back, so to say
but much larger than my white-breasted
nuthatch.
at had bright red head The wings were
vividly barred with white. 1t was very shy
bird, and has gone away It was not a red
headed woodpecker That bird Is much larger
and marked differently. It never comes to the
windowsill.
This new bird walked on the sill like the
nuthatch. They kind of hitch along when
walking"
This bird may have been a downy wood
pecker. The white-breasted nuthatch often
pals around with 1t.
The nuthatch is inches long, the downy
6h inches.
Downy woodpeckers, white breasted nut
matches and brown creepers are often seen to-
gether.
Few birds are more pleasant to have than
these, all true beauties In their own rights.
One of our pleasantest bird memories is of
downy and brown creeper on a large tree
trunk, with nuthatch spiraling down.
These birds may be regarded as tree sani-
tarians
They keep at it, cleaning crevices In the bark
of insect forms, at time of year when few
other birds bother about them
They are fine fellows of the airways, each
possessing distinctive characteristics each doing
good in his own peculiar way. Not that any one
Of the trio knows anything about that. Like
cats pigeons and common sparrows, each does
just what comes naturally, and that is all we
can ask Of the natural creatures, perhaps.