GARDEN ENTERTAINERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 66, 14 September 1940, Page 19

GARDEN ENTERTAINERS

"The garden was a big one and I was able to creep almost up to the bird tray without being seen. I hid behind a big bush and waited for a few minutes. Soon the tray was covered iwith sparrows, all busily pecking at the crusts put there. Then two blackbirds flew down, alighted on a bush, Jand suryeyed the scene. They were I joined by an untidy starling, and that [long-legged gentleman, a thrush. The thrush evidently thought it was up to him to do something, because he hopped down on to .the bird tray, frightening the other birds away. He was a giant among the smaller birds, [and seemed to dwarf even the bird tray. He was soon gobbling up the j food, and sent chunks of bread flying all over the place. Thrush seemed to think, a little while after, that, his long, sharp beak was not suitable for[ trencher work, and so, with a regret-[ jful look at the crumbs, he hopped into| the air and flew away. Immediately j the tray was again covered by other birds. Among those present were sparrow, bright-eye (dressed in his usual charming grey and green with eye-rings of silver), starling (who[ should be more careful and tidier in his habits), and I also noticed, at the foot of the bird tray, magpie, who was busily engaged in eating the scraps which thrush had scattered. "Very quietly I began to creep away, so as not to disturb the birds, but suddenly I stopped and froze in silence There, just to my side, was a thrush (I wonder if he was my former acquaintance) energetically tugging a long, wriggly worm from the lawn. All at once the worm came out, and he toppled back. However, he quickly recovered his balance and flew away, .his victim wriggling to and fro. "I love birds. Grey Ow] said that every ' bird and animal has a personality of its own. I firmly believe that. How could I think otherwise when I hear the raucous squawking of magpies quarrelling or see one sparrow tenderly feed another one. or see a lovebird sidle up to his mate and give her a shy kiss, or any of the one hundred and one other little ways a bird shows his personality? "GREY OWL." City.