Evening star., 1949-03-28
This and That
-. ;sy ekgTles E. T,ace'0en z-z,.,..
'"' ---- Chevy Chases.11A,

Dear Sir
This morning saw a flock Of seasulls
scattered over the grass near the Lincoln
memorial They appeared to be feeding
In the manner Of robins Do gulls dig in
the ground for grubs and worms, or has
someone scattered food for them? Or pos
sibly there was some fertilizer that attracted
them? never thought of a gull as
digger. though know they will pick up
worms or grubs on top of the ground
ITO those of us from the middle west,
sea birds are delightful novelty I have
come to love the big herring gulls swooping
over the river, or standing as If by magic
on the almost invisible ice on the Tidal
Basin What other sea birds are found
here. and how can recognize them?
Yours sincerely. A. p"
The herring gull is a common winter
visitant here. arriving about November 5,
and remaining until around May g.
The ring -necked gull is q common spring
and fall migrant, being seen from the last
Of February to early in May, and from early
in October to November.
The laughing gull is q regular summer
visitant, mostly in late summer from July
18 to October 80. Some may be seen from
April rs to May 20.
Bonaparte's gull is seen occasionally in
the winter in small numbers, and from
April to May IL. as q rule.
The glaucous gull is an accidental visitor
here.
The gulls are eating millipedes and cent?
pedes. when they are seen going over the
lawns
These creatures form a real part of their
diet.
Gulls also will eat other insects and their
grubS and eggs.
Herring and ring-nec gulls are the
most common on the Potomac here.
There are about so species of gulls Gulls
and terms differ in several ways. Gulls fly
with their bills on a line with the body,
while terms carry the bill pointed downward
Gulls light on the water to feed whereas
terms hover and plunge.
AS scavengers, gulls help keep the sea and
harbors clean.
Gulls sometimes go far inland as the
California gull, which once cleaned up q
pest of field mice in the alfalfa fields of
Nevada.
\Franklins gulls in Wisconsin and the Da-
kotas often follow the plowman.
California gulls performed their most
famous feat when they invaded Utah and
from 1848 to 1850 saved Salt Lake City from
millions of black crickets. Two bronze gulls
testify to the grateful remembrance Of that
city.
Many ducks are seen on the Potomac, up
and down, 20 in all.
These include the mallard, red-legged
black duck, black duck, wood ducks, mer-
sanger, red-breasted mersanger, hooded mer-
sanger, gaddwall European widgeon (acci-
dentaD, baldpate, European teal (acciden-
taD, green winged teal rare), blue-winged
teal, shoveler (rare), American pintail red
head. canvasback greater scaup, lesser
scaups, ring-necked (rare), American gold
eneye bufnehead, old squaw rare). Ameri-
can elder (accidentaD, American scooter
trare), white-winged scooter, surf scooter,
ruddy duck
The scoters frequent Chesapeake bay and
do not often come this far up the Potomac
Water birds provide a real thrill for
certain temperaments.
Their grace and beauty, and their right
ness" for their environment have struck the
minds and hearts Of all beholders.
But for 50 many city people today. the
water birds will always be truly accidental"
sights to be glimpsed now and then.
For all these persons, the word bird" will
mostly mean the songbirds, the robins, car
dinals, blue jays, titmice, chickadees, etc.,
they zee around their own homes.