Evening star., 1949-09-22
This and That
By Charles E. TraceueH

This is the story of Pe-Pie, a robin, now
on his own In the great outdoors, after some
weeks in the custody OF family In nearby
Arlington.
Mrs. w. s. M. OF that suburb tells the
story, as follows:
"Pe-Pie was tailless, bedraggled, wet ball
OF indignantly chirping fluff when he hoped
onto our back porch three weeks ago on
wet, rainy afternoon. Without thinking. I put
bread crumbs by him, which he made no
move for, and later surmised he had fallen
from the nest and was still too young to eat
by himself.
The incessant chirping continued and
even though followed him through a small
wooded section, was unable to catch him.
Later that evening he returned and fell into
window well. We picked him UP, brought
him inside and fed him water, flies and bread
crumbs.
I'VE were extremely grateful for an article
in your column that evening regarding care
Of baby birds, particularly robins, as over
night Pe-Pie's speckled breast turned rufous
and we knew him to be robin.
He was fed ground beef, hard-cooked egg
yolk, liver, bread, milk, and green seedless
grapes, which he loved best of all.
"Pe-Pie acquired an inch of tail, his soft
yellow beak hardened and turned black, and
he was plucking out his down within one
week. Within two days he would climb on
our fingers. let us stroke his head and breast,
and within week would fly to meet us
whenever we went to the basement which
was his home. Usually he alighted on our
head or shoulders.
~ Il
I'VE kept the baby robin nearly three
Merely calling his name brought forth
chatter and chirping until he had been fed
or talked to for time. During each feeding
he carried on as other baby birds do. flutter-
ing his wings, and the chirping becoming
softer after each bite. Frequently he would
hop into my lap, ruff his feathers and settle
down until removed him.
"A week ago I carried him outside on my
finger. which I had done several times, in
tending to put him on the ground He i'm
mediately new up into tall tree. He flew to
several others and finally stayed in one for
six hours.
He was hungry, didn't know how to find
food. kept calling, answering our calls, but
apparently didn't know how to get down to
us.
I'm the meantime a storm came up and
his calls became more frantic r
He made several attempts to come down,
and finally we shook the tree so violently he
fell out and futtered down. unhurt
During the next week in the basement
he learned to drink, take baths and peck at
food or anything else he saw on the floor.
We turned Pe-Pie loose last Saturday in
the country, where we have a cabin in
heavily wooded section between Annandale
and Falls Church.
He few straight up into the .tallest tree
ana had wonderful time going here and
there. He'd swoop over our heads, but didn't
come all the way to us that day. .,-
The next morning we were awakened by
hts chirping. He Immediately flew down
when We walked outside, and started beg
gine for food. For the next two days he'd
come down whenever we walked outside. was
hungry, or even at our call. He ate less at
each feeding, and would suddenly hop away.
cock his head, and get his own food from
the ground.
He seemed to love water and took four
baths in one day. He would frequently come
back to me, apparently for company, as he
wouldn't take food or water.
~
I'VE left the country Monday night, and
even though we returned Tuesday afternoon
Pe-Pie didn't answer our calls. We feel
certain he can take care OF himself, and
after observing the habits Of other birds are
confident he will be back from time to time
This is an interesting account OF bird and
human reactions. one to the other.
Two sentences particularly interested us.
One was that the robin indoors "pecked at
food or anything else he saw on the floor. ."
It is best not to leave anything In the way
OF rugs. wool. ETC., on the floor. Too much
Of these materials may prove harmful.
The other sentence was that Pe-Pie took
four baths In one day. This Is an observa-
tion that can be made only Of . Gagged or
seni-tamed bird.