MOCKINGBIRD TRIO

As an Audubon Society member and licensed operator of a Queens Bird Ambulance (KR, 1971) and home hospital, Thomas observes more and sentimentalizes somewhat less than the average backyard good samaritan. Thus when mockingbirds George, Chuck and Andy panic at the sight of an iron cord, she recalls that snakes are deadly enemies of mockers, and when they keel over under a photographer's floodlight she recognizes that this is a sunning ritual which provides the young birds with vitamin D. Finally when the time comes for the trio to return to the wild, she calls in a licensed bird bander and sees them off without regrets. Slight and very personal, but Ms. Thomas knows her business.