Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-29
The Bird Question.

1 than harm y o ANSWER tllS question IN
a general way all that would be necessary
TO say would be: Yes, very many.
From a scientific standpoint birds are
one of the forces which nature employs
TO keen other forces in check. From an
aesthetic view they are beautiful creatures
given by Providence to help glorify the
i earth.
Certain birds are not at all injurious to
the farmer, as the oriole, the cat-bird,
robin, cherry-bird, etc. On the other
hand there are birds particularly destruc-
tive to the farmer at certain seasons, as
the red-winged blackbird. The first birds
mentioned are especially obnoxious to the
| fruit-grower, while the blackbird is not
So the quail, prairie-fowl and all others of
| the gallinaceous family eat grain largely
at such seasons as they cannot find in
sects; and yet there are none that should
be more carefully fostered by all classes
than not only these, but all that class of
land birds usually denominated game
| birds
| If we give you list of some of the more
common varieties of birds and the food
they eat you may be able to form a pretty
clear idea Of their general value to the
cultivator, and will easily see that the in
| discriminate slaughter of birds is any
| thing but wise. In fact, the total exter-
| mination of any one species would proba-
| bly, bring with it evils of another nature,
| extremely difficult to be overcome
Birds are found where shelter and food
are most plentiful. In prairie countries
| birds are confined to but few specimens
grouse, quail, swallows, martins, meadow
larks and the rice bunting making up
large portion of them. Plant trees and
their numbers increase indefinitely; for
| thus they have shelter Protect them and
little killing with the ripening of crops
does not prevent their return with the re-
turning spring
Where do they go in winter?
Where they may find food.
1t is related that shoemaker of Basic.
Switzerland, once put collar on a swal-
low in the autumn, containing this in
scriptiOn:
Pretty swallow, tell me whittier goest
thou in winter!''
The next spring the same courier, by
the same means, brought this answer:
To Anthony, at Athens Why dost
thou Inquirer
Poetry is pleasant. Theory, specula-
ton and sentiment are well enough in
their way. Practical knowledge, through
careful observation, is what the practical
man wants when bread and butter are con-
cerned.
A knowledge of what some of the more
common birds eat will enable the practical
man to answer the question asked at the
head of this article in the most practical
manner possible.
Robins, catbirds, blue,iays, cherry
birds, orioles and others of that class are
we'll Known as truit-eaters, as well as great
destroyers of insects. They are undoubt-
edly worthy of destruction by the horti-
culturist when fruit is ripening-never so
by the farmer.
Of the rapacious birds, or those of prey.
the eagle, Notwithstanding the airs he puts
on as the :" Bird o. Freedom" is thief
and robber, and not especially brave.
Of owls, the notified owl (Scops Asso)
and the saw-whet owl (N5ctole Acad5ca),
the first lives about barns in winter. if al
lowed, and both are inveterate mousers.
In the summer they also eat large moths
and beetles.
The hen-hawk will sometimes take a
chicken; but their principal food is mice,
frogs, grasshoppers, and various vermin.
The broad-winged hawk eats mice
grasshoppers, and other insects.
The rough-legged hawk eats principally
feld-mice
The sparrow hawk, early in the season,
lives on birds and mice; later, principally
on grasshoppers.
The sWallow-tailed hawk lives on
snakes, lizards, frogs, beetles, grasshop-
pers, and other insects
The red tailed buzzard often makes bold
attempts on barn-yard fowl; but his prin
cipal food is squirrels, rabbits, rats and
mice.
The American crow, so universally and
wrongfully detested by farmers, eats mice,
frogs, and various insects; in fact, is an
almost universal feeder; but does not eat
so much corn as he gets. charged with
The red-winged blackbird has been
universally despised by farmers. 1t pill
fers the ripening grain when pressed by
hunger. In the spring its food is cut
worms, wire-worms, caterpillars, and the
Larvae of noxious butterflies. It is sur
prising what little amount of shooting
will drive them from the fields where they
flock after breeding time.
The purple grackle, or crow-blackbird,
is less destructive. 1t pulls some corn, it
Is true, but its principal food is injurious
larvae, much of which it gets by following
the plowman if allowed.
The climbers include woodpeckers and
cuckOos They are nearly all beneficial
The yellow-billed cuckoo especially-quite
common in Northern IllinOis-are per-
sistent devourers Of that pest Of orchards,
| the American tent caterpillar.
II,