Evening star., 1949-07-01
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Tracepell
"KALORAMA ROAD.

Dear Sir:
With reference to the remarks of some
starting lovers published in your column re-
Gently, would like to suggest that if they
are sufficiently interested in these good birds
they write protests against the extermina-
ton to Hon. ]. Howard McGrath, Senate
District Committee. and Hon. John L. Nc
MILAN. House District Committee. I have
written several letters in defense of these
interesting birds.
LAS one OF your correspondents stated, the
starlings are kind, gentle birds. When do
window-sill feeding for them during the
winter, they always eat amicably and do not
mind the Sparrows that come to share their
meal
II have yet to see them crowd or peck at
the smaller birds, as the pigeons and many
other birds do. They are not only without
faults, but are even beneficial and the little
dirt they make in few places could perhaps
be cleaned up with smaller expense than
the determination program contemplated,
or roofs might be repaired in such way as
to prevent their roosting where they are OBJ
jectionable.
1T seems that If humans would mediate
on the dirt, they themselves make, they
might possibly be little more tolerant.
THE starlings are of great assistance in
keeping our insect enemies in check and
beetles if allowed the right to live AS has
been stated. when these harmless little crea-
lures are gone, there will be something else
that botherS few people, and the killing
will 60 on Indefinitely as long as there are
egoists who think only of themselves and
make q great deal Of some little inconven-
ience to them.
mo doubt if there could be referendum
on the starlings. they would not be killed.
h11f fa r1a 1oy to- %I,a
and 1t is to be regretted that a few men
make decisions Of interest to many.
Sincerely yours, M. H. H."
~ X X
ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
"Our problem is not how to take care Of
young robin, but how to get rid of one.
ree-and-a-half weeks ago we rescued
Butch after a erackle had destroyed the nest
and he has gotten so attached to us that he
won't associate with birds.
HE comes to the kitchen every morning
for his hamburger Che prefers that to angle
worms, nestles in the palm of my hand
and talks to me and takes a short nap on
the round of the chair.
Then I put him out, and in couple
Of hours he's back-we know his call, it is
very demanding squawk.
Butch loves people. If I'm not in the
yard he goes to the neighbors' yards. At first
1t was very disconcerting to have robin
swoop down and land on your head, but
most OF the neighborS are used to it by now.
"All except one white-haired lady who is
desperately afraid of birds, and he seemed to
be attracted to her lovely hair.
''The neighbor next door painted his sta
ton wagon and back porch with Butch
perched on his shoulder.
I'VE are getting lot of pleasure out Of
caring for Butch. When we work in the
garden. he's right with us, going up and
down the rows of vegetables, eating bugs. We
hope he won't forget us next year.
Every one marvels at how unafraid and
trusting Butch is with people. hope it won't
be his downfall.
by the way, did you ever see a robin
yawn? They definitely do.
Very truly, H. L. Y"
It is good idea with pet robin, to teach
1t to take food from the ground.
This is done by placing small worm, bug,
or ugly beetle in front of the songster.
The crawling intrigues him-down comes
the bill.
This Is the ancestral feeding motion for
all Birds except those that catch insects on
the wing.
It Is peculiarly the feeding motion of the
robin. Once q bird learns this, it can take
care Of ITSELF
few birds raised by hand" seem to be
particularly slow in learning how to eat.
Butch will associate with other birds as
soon as he decides to feed himself. AS soon
as he does this. he will see other robins
yanking worms from the soil, and he will
decide to get some for himself Evidently
this form of competition runs through all
grades Of life.
t After the robin goes on his own, he viii
lose some Of his trust in mankind, and this
is all to the good, because both birds and
men must come in time to see that neither