Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-03-21
Protect the Birds.

AMERICAN FLAG, March 2, 1885. To the Editor of the CIrIzES-Desr Sir: few words about the birds that one finds in this region may interest you,
 and should you think 1t worth your
 while, please present them to your
 readers.
 Few of us, think, realize that outside
 of birds that are useful for the table, and
 perhaps few of the more noted song
 sters of this region, such as the mocking
 bird, the wrens and some thrushers, that
 there are a vast number of featherd den-
 izens all about us that rarely draw our
 attention. It is a safe estimate to place
 the species thst one may find in and im-
 mediately about Tucson, at not less than
 two hundred and fifty. To be sure. all may not be found sSonce-a the locality, hnt sahing slIe year throughout careful observation would demonstrate that dur ing the varlOus seasons, and in the differ ent localities, as river, swamp, woodland and desert, fully that many. We talk about swallows, bluejays, sparrows, etc, as if each were kind by itself, and yet there are no less than five kinds of swal- lows, three kinds of jays, and three diff erent sparrows of distint kinds are not to be enumerated in so brief a letter as I am writing to you. Then there are three kinds of crows, many different hawks, and five kinds of owls, and have not as yet hinted at the ducks, snipe, herons, ibeses, nor of the wsrblers. vlreos, hycstchers, oteagars, orioles m fact of many founders, tin scientific parlance) of birds that are to be found just about our doors and which are as beautiful, as varied in plumsge. as charming as diverse in song, and each of which doubtless fills place in the great balance of nature as important ss are the several callings among the other biped inhabitants of the cOuDtry-man.
 There are those inyaluable scsvengers, bnzzards, vultures, and the several kinds of crows; there are haws who if they do now and again commit depredatiOns on the poultry yard and even on some of their wlld feathered cousins, do for the most part prey on mIce and gophers and lizards and snakes. Again you may see very tiny scavengers and vultures of different class In every tree, hedgerow and bush, getting theIr subslst-nce pure- ly from the insect life, grub, worm or beetle. that infests each of the partlcu- lar localities named, where they are hunted. And carefully watching for water, game in the shape of frogs, larva of acquatlc insects and as infinite varie- ty of small water animals, the heron stands or walks malestically on almost every swamp and by every stream and water hole. And yet again, l could instance many more did my space allow.
 1 think 1 hear some one asking to what end Is all thIs long introduction aud a word or SO now will answer the query and 1 shall have finished. All of our birds have particular use and are so beneficial to every industry, directly in most cases and indirectly in some, that 1t seems very essential to begin at least to protect them by careful laws as to what kinds may and what kinds may not be killed, and to regulate the season when such killing may be done. Such laws have been passed in all the older states and are being strengthened year by year as the people realize what great friends they have among the birds.
 The game birds, as quail, blower, snipe and various ducks should be carefully preserved during the breeding season and only be allowed to be killed for the table for about four months in the year, beginning with the lst of October. l shall not argue Tn favor of the hawks, though l believe the majority are of great benefit to man, for they are killed in but small numbers OD account of their shy and wary habits, but need not point to the necessity of stringent laws we'll enforced for the protection of buzZards, crows and the like which are particularly needed for scavengers in our warm climate. And for the other birds, the thrushes, wrens, sparrOws, orioles, blackbirds, nighthswks, worblers, swal- lOSF, hy-catchers, woodpeckers, in fact all the smaller arbOreal and terrestrial species that are of incalculabls benefit to the farmers and ranchers and to all who have gardens, they should not be allowed to be destroyed at any season of he year. It seems necessary to point in closing, to the fact that the nests and eggs of these birds should be protected carefully by legislation. Very truly,
 w. E. D. SCorT.