Evening star., 1949-04-16
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUell
NEW YORK AVENUE.

II recently witnessed the aftermath Of a
tragic accident in the life Of the feathered
creatures. 1t was lesson in true devotion.
Il was walking down the avenue that
passes the Presidents executive office. and
noting the trees and watching for the signs
Of the birds and squirrels that one sees on the
White House grounds,
Il saw a White House officer stop and
stand looking intently through the fence on
the slope.
. II stopped, and looked. too. because he
said. Let me tell you what this picture under
the fence means
There on the slope. side by side. lay q
male robin. his red breast up, and the fe-
male, with her head dropped down into her
feathers. real mourning pose.
''The officer said the male had been struck
by an automobile while in full flight. The
saw her. he said watching him from q near
tree and said, She will be killed too
Some one laid the robin on the slope
inside the fence. The female came down.
and stayed by him all night She evidently
starved herself and mourned till she died
right there beside him.
Then he said something that was like q
requiem. and the sense Of grief that could
not help feeling as looked at the tragedy
Of the devoted couple was hghtened. for
this man Of experience and poise was hum
BILE enough to say. That's loyalty for you.
and found in these little BIRDS What q
lessonr
"As am always watching birds and SOUR
rels. though do not have the advantage of
q garden as so many Of your readers that
contribute to your column have. thought
this actual happening might be of interest.
! rarely miss reading your particular part
of the Editors page. hope you will always
be there. Sincerely, M. r. G. L.
nth STREET.
Dear Sir:
For more than q week pair of blue Jays
have been trying to build nest high up on
our front porch
Il say trying because to date, although
they have been at it from early morning until
late evening. actually they have made no
progress whatever.
They carry large quantities of long sticks
and wire mesh. depositing 1t on the floor Of
the porch. and try unsuccessfully to twist
1t into a nest up on top Of the post.
Twice yesterday we carried away the
whole pile. thinking they might give up and
leave. but today they have brought more
material and been at work all day long.
Il would appreciate it II you would tell
us if this is characteristic OF blue jays and
what eventually they viii do for q nest.
Il have heard that they lay their eggs In
other birds nests. Is this true?
Have you any suggestions as to how we
might help them. or II that Is not possible
how we can get rid of them2
Very truly. M. E. X"
Our advice would be to let the Jays alone
These are interesting birds to watch at
nesting time.
The Jays are fine fathers and mothers,
caring for the babies In the nest for three
or four weeks after they are born.
The father jay win ny at any dog. cat. or
even human being. but seldom does any
harm. aside from rather hard peck on
the head.
The blue jay nest usually is placed in
conifers, or deciduous trees, preferably the
cedar trees.
The nest is q loose affair. careiessly con-
structed. just as our correspondent has dis
covered.
The rim Is usually ragged. Materials used
include sticks. leaves. strips Of bark. and
weed stems II Is In the lining that the birds
show their typical jay tendency-they use
bark, grass. pine needles paper, rags, string.
or anv material that strikes their fancy
including wire mesh, evidently.
Jays never put their eggs in another birds
nest There Is only one bird that does
such q trick, and Il b the cowbird. all black
with q brown head.
Jays lay from 3 to pale dun olive eggs
They have but one brood.
Nobody knows how many eggs the cow
bird mother lays. for she sneaks them 30
quietly into nests Of other birds that no
one has even been able TO make count