The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-01
Fruit.Eating Birds.

regarded with especial aversion the bad
boy with the rusty muSket; and | not
0nly made it point summarilv TO eject
him when found on my grounds, but
also to prosecute him vigorously in
every legal manner possible when
found el-ewhere. But ! have changed
my mind. He is now not only welcome
providing he is good shot and has
plenty of ammunition-bu but he is also
treated to a good lunch after his morn
ing' 5 exercise, and invited to call again
whenever the misunderstanding element
within him is most active, and he has
.cumulated another supply of ammu-
milton.
The reason why formerly prosecuted
the bad boy was because he shot my
robins, brown thrushes and cat-birds,
which | mad been taught to regard a.
my best friends, and carefully to pro-
tect from all harm. The reason | have
changed is, that | have learned that
instead of being my best friends they
are among my worst foes. Let me
explain.
These birds, owing to the protection
accorded them. have become very nu-
merOus hereaoout, and have, during
the past three wears, diligently studied
their habits with view to ascertain
inc their real value to the farmer and
fruit grower The result of my invcsti
cations was a surprise 20 me. have
learned that good healthy robin viii
eat full half pint of cherries each dal
during the cherry season. Most o,
them will eat 4 full pint, but [ will put
the average at half a pint to make the
accusation as light as possible. We
will PIT the cherry season at fourteen
days, making fourteen pints of cherries
for each pair of birds. Seven quarts
al fifteen cents per quart is Sl.0j. The
same pair of birds will eat or destroy
each berry that has hole picked in It
is destroyed one pint of Strawberries
each day during the strawberry season,
which we will also put at fourteen days,
though it is really much longer. Seven
quarts of strawberries at fifteen cents
per quart is 51.05. The raspberry season
follows, and they will eat one p Mt a
day for say twelve days. Six quarts of
raspberrieS at fifteen cents quart is
ninety cents. OF blackberries they will
eat at least two quarts, worth thirty
cents. Total for each pair of birds,
$50. Rather high price to pay for
a little sentiment and few roundelayS
in the early spring-time,
This is no fancy sketrh "evolveG
from my inner cons .iousness;" it is the
result of close observation, with all the
prejudice in favor of the birds. Brown
thrlShe5 and cat-b birds will fully equal
the performance of the robin. .Africnd
assures me that they are also very in
furious TO his grapes, but have II 1t had
time to investigate their operations on
that fruit.
| will admit that these birds destroy
n great many insects and worms in tic
SDrnr, and where no fruit is grown
they might probably be protected; but
whether the man who grows fruit, either
for his own use or market, can afford
to grow $3.50 worth each season solely
for the benefit of each pair of ro6bins,
brown-thruShcS and cat-birdS which
may choose to locate on or near his
premises, is an open question. | can't
ford it, and the bad boy with his rusty
musket and the good boy wi his new
breech loader are thrice welcome to
my grounds. The only restriction
placed upon them is that they shall kill
robins. brown-thrusheS, cat-bird5 and
crows, and no others.
| have tried all the methods | could
invent or hear of to keep these birds oil
my fruit, but to no avail. Stuffed
hawks swinging from the ends of long
poles, cats, wind-mills. straw men
armed with long sticks, little bells rung
by the wind, etc, were a better than
so many jack-straws. The only really
effective preventive is lively boy with
a shotgun.
Tne English sparrow is here, ard
though he NAV in time become nui
Sance. at present he is ino1ensive.
There are a few other birds besides
robins, cat-bird5 and thrushes that eli
fruit; but so far as my observation eX-
tends all put together will not eat as
m Ich in a whole season rs one robin
will in a week.
L have aScertained to my satisfaction
that one toad will actually DESTROY more
worms and bugs than any bird living.
and | have come to regard him as
friend indeed. He goes abroad at night
when cut worms are out. and the num-
Der that he an stow away in his capa-
ciOuS abdomen is actually astonishing.
All he requires is a cool, damp place tC
repOse in through the day, and when
thus provided he will never forsake q
field while his favorite food is abun-
dant. As an insect destroyer he is worth
half dozen birds of his size.-C0r. ".
l. Examiner.