The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-03
Fruit Eating Birds.

Until within the last two years have
regarded with especial aversion the bad
boy with the rusty musket; and | not
only made it point summarilv to eject
him when found on my grounds, but
also to persecute him vigorously in
every legal manner possible when
found elsewhere. But have changed
my mind. He is now not only welcome
providing he is a good shot and has
plenty of ammunition-but he is also
treated to a good lunch after his morn
ing's exercise, and invited to call again
whenever the bird-destroying element
within him is most active, and he has
accumulated 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 had been taught to regard as
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
merous hereaDout, and | have, during
the past three years, diligently studied
their habits with view to ascertain
ing their real value to the farmer and
fruit-grower. The result of my investi-
cations was a surprise to me. | have
learned that a good healthy robin will
eat u full half-pint of cherries each day
during the cherry season. Most of
them will eat full pint, but [ will put
the average at half pint to make the
accusation as light as possible. We
will put the cherry season at fourteen
days, making fourteen pints ofcherries
for each pair of birds. Seven quarts
at fifteen cents per quart is $1.O5. The
same pair of birds will eat or destroy
each berry that has hole picked in it
is destroyed 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 $1.05. The raspberry season
follows, and they will eat one pint q
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,
$3.50. Rather high price to pay for
little sentiment and few roundelays
in the early spring-time!
This is no fancy sketch evolved
from my inner consciousness" it is the
result of close observation, with all the
prejudice in favor of the birds Brown
thrushes and cat-birds will fully equal
the performance of the robin. A friend
assures me that they are also very in
furious to his grapes, but have not had
time to investigate their operations on
that fruit.
will admit that these birds destroy
a great many insects and worms in the
spring, and where no fruit is grown
they might proftably 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 robbins,
brown-thrusheS and cat-birds which
may choose to locate on or near his
premises, is an open question. | can t
afford it, and the bad boy with his rusty
musket and the good boy with his new
! DICOCII-lOducI ulC IuIICC hCICOlHC W
my grounds. The only restriction
placed upon them is that they shall kill
robins, brown-thrushes, cat-birds 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 no better than
so many jack-strawS. The only really
effective preventive is a lively boy with
a shotgun.
The English sparrow is here, and
though he may in time become nui-
sance, at present he is inoflensive.
There are few other birds besides
robins, cat-birds and thrushes that eat
fruit; but so far as my observation ex-
tends all put together will not eat as
much in whole season as one robin
will in 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 g
friend indeed. He goes abroad at night
when cut worms are out, and the mum
Der that he can 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 wher
thus provided he will never forsake 6
field while his favorite food is abun
dant. AS an insect destroyer he is worth
half dozen birds of his size. Cor N
Y. Examiner.