Evening star., 1949-02-05
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1Uell
"BELMONT ROAD


Dear .Sira sa ,~. s,rr
=" Since have been much benefited by your
timely personal advice and also through your
daily column, feel am obligated to do some
thing in return.
Therefore please permit me to offer mod
est suggestion concerning the back yard winter
supply of water for our feathered friends. 1t
is possible, Of course, that 1t contains nothing
new, but I will submit the idea for what 1t
may be worth.
I'm our back yard two fruit trees located at
opposite ends of the space have been in use
for some years as watering places Earthen-
ware 10-inch square saucers have been placed
among the lower limbs, approximately 312 feet
above the ground. During mild winters they
have been quite success. But during freezing
and thawing periods of other more severe sea-
sons the pans or saucers have cracked up, and
it has been necessary to replace them, some
times with much difhculty
"The pans are located on improvised plat
forms nailed to the main body and protruding
branches upward.
This season we tried out the experiment
Of substituting aluminium pans of approx
mately As to go cents each. We have one
square one and one circular In order to
eliminate the possibility of freezing or frost
bite to the birds feet or toes, we wrapped the
upper edges Of the sides with friction tape,
which costs only 10 cents a roll.
Ao AASW tyPC oSeAP PAA1ACO e1iC SOoIOAAClo o
for only couple Of hours, after which one by
one they gradually dropped down on the tape
and were perfectly at home thereafter
I'VE have found that the aluminium pans are
much easier to de-ice and also to keep clean,
as they are nonporus, and the ice and dirt
does not adhere to the surface, as in the case
of the earthenware saucers.
at the present time both stations are being
patronized by all comers and the situation
appears to be well in hand.
Very respectfully, M. c. K"
Even ardent bird caretakers sometimes forget
the water. But there is nothing a bird needs
more, except food. In wet seasons, he has no
trouble in finding 1t, usually. Any small puddle
will do, both for drinking and bathing.
1t is not always realized that birds are so
warm, internally, that they can indulge in out
door bathing at almost any temperature.
Every one has seen them taking snow baths,
but these are not really baths, except in a
sense, any more than dust baths are real baths.
Real baths, as every one knows-even bird
consist Of getting into water and splashing
around.
The splashing is part of it-as every child
in bathtub or the ocean realizes.
Birds really love to bathe, and their inner
temperature permits it.
These temperatures, maintained the year
around, range from 101 to Ill degrees
The next time you see some mite in feathers,
and feel sorry for him in the cold, renew your
optimism by reminding yourself that the little
ones temperature is high for q purpose.
Just let him get enough food, and he will do
all right. So food does come first, of course.
Then the water. Winter winds tend to dry
up small pools and puddles. Very deep water
is not so accessible.
Small pans and saucers are very helpful, as
our correspondent points out so we'll They
may be put in trees or shrubs, or just on the
ground. Sometimes they are effective when
sunken in the earth.
After being put in place, the main concern
is to keep them filled. This is where many
well intentioned persons fall down. Not every
one is methodical by nature. But when a
water saucer is put out, it is useless unless
something or some one keeps 1t filled In q
rainy season, nature will take care of this.
At other times, some human elements must
enter the scene. If some one member Of the
family is made responsible for the water bowls,
so much better the chance for keeping them
filled. Birds enjoy them 50. They are clean
little things, in their way. Natures cleanliness
is not ours, but 1t is fundamental. 1t is the
kind we had before we got bathtubsI