Evening star., 1949-11-10
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH

"Dear Sir:
Sometimes one hears people say. Where
have the bluebirds gone? We never see
them any more
ITO all such, let me say this:
ut has been my good fortune to have
been taken on rides back into the narrow,
winding road, in the rural and farming sec
tions around Vienna and Mclean where
the flowers seem to love the soil and the
comfortable home owners love flowers, for
they were Haunting their rich colors In great
profusion. 4s
But the joyful surprise which crowned
the excursions was the hocks Of bluebirds
whtch took dight from the fences as we
passed or rose from the fields. y &2sl
Some, children In a school visited told
me they often saw bluebirds but couldn't
believe 1t until saw them myself.
Sincerely, P. 8. NJ"
Bluebirds still live in neighborhoods
where there are plenty Of young trees.
They like saplings and shrubbery, and
where these are they will gather.
Some years ago. in the vicinity Of Wesley
Heights, conditions just suited them.
At that time there were several hundred
bluebirds living In that neighborhood the
year around.
Reports to this column from time to time
established that there was bluebird belt
across the city. roughly about a half mile
wide, and extending from Wesley Heights
far to the east.
In this "belt" one might be sure to zee
bluebirds from time to time. and have q
much better chance to have them at nesting
time.
Home owners to the north and south Of
one OF the loveliest Of all birds, so that It
was no wonder that they were inclined to
wonder where they were and lamented the
fact they did not see them any more
In our own neighborhood the bluebird
is rare Wsitant. while half q mile to the
north they are seen every winter in groups
OF half dozen or more.
There seem to be more bluebirds In Ia
korna Park than in Chevy Chase, and this
applies to both the District of Columbia and
Maryland sections of each.
+*+4
A great sleet and ice storm many years
ago killed thousands Of these beautiful birds.
Since that time they have been making
q slow recovery, but still they cannot be
called very numerous.
Our own personal experience with the
species Is interesting.
/ About 16 years ago we had one pair visit
the yard for day.
They inspected fine new bluebird house
which had just been put up. It was neat
house, with white walls and dark green
shingles.
Surely. we thought, no bluebirds could re-
sist this.
And so it seemed, for immediately this
pair new in, the first to be seen in the yard
Each one went in and out the house, SO
that hopes ran high with us, but after that
one day we never saw them again. and they
are the last bluebirds ever to be seen in the
yard.
It is not at all unusual for persons to be
found who remember bluebirds from their
childhood but who have pot seen even one
since.
This is great loss. for there is no better
bird.
It's blue and red coloring make it an ex-
tremely effective creature from the physical
standpoint. while It's pleasant demeanor and
calm actions combine to insure that prac-
tically all who see it love 1t.
It belongs to the group of birds which
include the hermit and wood thrushes, the
robin and the veery. It will be realized that
here we have some OF our very finest singers
and most lovable birds They are all very
clean and happy looking. and ALI sing beau.
tifully. .s
Robins are mostly migratory, but few
Of them remain here all winter. Many
bluebirds stay here, and 1t Is perhaps not
wrong to say that as many as 1000 around
Washington all winter. It is. therefore, i
sad fact that 50 many Of us never see them
10 winter, nor in spring Or summer. for that
matter. sss* .