Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-01
This and That
Charles E. TraceweU

Lear oI.
after many years of reading your column
in The Star, this is to tell you that have
enjoyed so very much your articles about
birds and wildlife.
For several years my activities were cur
tailed to such degree that whole world
Of life and interest was opened to me as I
sat for hours looking out a window into
garden in Florida at bird feeding station
and bird bath.
1.-The redbirds ran the joint. and If their
or I should say If old man papa redbirds-
sunf1ower seeds are not there, he flies right
off to the back porch and yells until some
one brings fresh handful out to him.
HE and his wife and children unfold their
routine so clearly that there is no mistaking
what is going on, to the quiet, friendly
watcher.
THE woodpeckerS do the same with their
clumsy babies. The Knockers, who scorn the
feeding station, revel in the bird bath-and
such splashing-with the 'peckerwoods' aping
them.
"I've never seen the redbirds battle. al
though they drink here.
"Of course, the redbirds rule the roost
because we concentrated on them.
"They seem to like red-the red Of our
car or the roof of the house on the feeding
station.
And we have learned to whistle at them
in such a manner of imitation that they
know we are calling them. We also talk baby
talk to them as we do to our baby bantams
and puppies and have shown our preference
until they are so confident they run of the
blue jays and squirrels at their feeding time.
just at break of day, noon and dusk, in no
uncertain manner.
"They build their nests right under our
noses in the bougainvillaea bushes where we
watch the hen lay an egg day until there
are three, and when she starts setting she
watches us pass her nest and we speak to
her and she doesn't even raise her crest.
During the hurricane the redbirds and
Knockers came right in the tool house to eat
and drink like birds in cage-or just like
the bantams. ...~
your column recreates these scenes when
We have to be here in the city.
Sincerely. M. c. b.
4
Many retired persons, and Others might
profit from one sentence in the above:
my activities were curtailed to such a
degree that whole world of life and inter-
est opened to me-"
Most persons feel that when their activities
are curtailed, even a little, that life Is fall
ing away from them.
This applies to heart patients bed-ridden
invalids, and scores Of other cases.
Deprived of their usual activities, they
begin to feel very sorry for themselves, and
to believe that life is no more for them.
1t is at this point that the above whole
some viewpoint comes into play, II one can
manage it. Perhaps all persons cannot but
some who think they cannot could. If they
once got the good idea.
This idea is simply that ones own life is
not all the life there is. A multitude of living
creatures, each one as active as can be. each
suffering and triumphing, is just outside
the door.
This world may be insects. or it may be
birds, or it may be fishes in streams. or dogs
and cats of the neighborhood. They are all
there for the taking. which means the
watching.
Our correspondent speaks Of never having
seen a redbird battle here. This is because
they are what we have called shy bathers.
They do not openly dip in and splash around,
as robins do, but rather take their baths on
the sly But they do battle. perhaps as much
as any other species. They love to have a
hose with the fine spray played into tall
shrub or evergreen so that the water drips
down.
The cardinals favorite feeding times. as
pointed out, are at dawn's first and last
lights. They prefer sunf1ower seed, and II
some is put out for them at this time, they
are very happy.