Evening star., 1949-07-05
This and That
By Charles +. Trace1cell

Miss G. G. need not worry about her
mockingbird.
The bird is probably all right. birds have
thousands Of years behind them. even the
youngest have!
Miss G. had pet mocker, and it finally
flew away, she says.
III you will recall. contacted you on the
phone for advice on how to raise a hedgling
mocker." she writes.
room, where he was free to come and go
at will
Il encouraged him to fly as soon as he
showed the inclination. In the week of May
70 he was fiying-and perching outdoors at
night.
He was slow in learning to eat.
Every two hours all day for three weeks
he would swoop down from some oak, call
in baby chirp and then fly in the window,
which I always left open and demand his
meal.
He usually perched on my head until
had his meal ready. Then he would perch
on my left finger and eat-they fly away.
Friday. May 27. at 5 pm, was the last
time ever saw him. I am heartsick
wonder If let him free too soon If he was
too young to protect himself. I can't under
stand whatever happened to him.
What is the life cycle of wildbird? How
soon can they take care of themselves? DO
you know if birds who become pets ever come
back?
Il would not feel badly If I knew he was
safe among his own.
II live on a farm containing 10 acres of
land. I have many occasions to assist the
feathered friends. I find many badly
injured"
Four weeks is long enough for a mocker to
get its bearings.
Our correspondents specimen probably is
all right.
BY that time, IT would be fully able to take
care of ITSELF
The fact that it did not come back means
little. Each bird is an individual and has
its own way of accepting life.
There always comes point in the life of
every bird raised by hand" when it decides
to make the break for freedom.
Some of these do come back from time
to time
Others do not.
Our own Lily Belle robin never came
back to hand. once she made break for it.
She did, however. appear in the yard.
from time to time, for about a month. This
apparently, is robin fashion.
The mockingbird. being more redoubtable
Sort OF creature, PROBABLY seldom appears
after it once makes its getaway.
1t may, however. return in late fall, or
even take up its winter residence around the
house.
Or. again, 1t may not.
The mocker is a capable creature, well able
to take care Of ITSELF certainly Some of
them remain here the year around. These
are commonly thought to be the males
1t would be a good thing for our cor
respondent to put out raisins, from time
to time and other foods the bird liked.
The mockingbird is most likely of all birds
to be able to take care of himself.
Much depends upon the individual speci-
men. AS for eating habits, If he had ever
taken any food at all from the floor or the
palm Of the hand, he had learned enough
to reach for food in his own way and that
is what eating means to bird. They have
no etiquette to worry about The robin baby
bird. for instance. can learn to peck up
| insects and worms when only few weeks old
A rnockingbird at the ripe old age of four
weeks should be in good shape to take on all
the duties of bird life from then on. He
might find it little difficult. at first, but
shortly the spur of hunger would compel
him to look around him in earnest. We must
not forget that natures school is faster than
any human school. The house cat Is fully
adult at 8 months. Most birds are able to
take care of themselves shortly after they
are able to fy, II compelled to. Parent birds
sometimes make babies Of them longer,
but ut any time the baby bird could take
care OF itself If it had to, once it eats by
itself and hies weh