Wichita eagle., 1889-03-12
PROTECT OUR BIRDS.

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
We all love birds, flowers and children
or have no love, and are not included II
my remarks-if there is anything Iowa
BILE it is the song of the birds. The mating
song of the lark, redbreast and mocking
bird is full of praise and thanksgiving;
and the first music of spring stirs the
Utmost depths of our original natures,
and makes us feel there is lost Eden
we wish restored. What can
we do to repay the birds
for their sweet music, ever
grateful to our ears? They
are more than half provided for in
| the shade and cover of our trees. All
Kansas is lavish with her insects, almost
to the detriment of our crops. and for
that reason birds should be encouraged
and preserved While our trees are a
great benefit to most birds they are not a
sufficient protection to the most useful
birds which seem to require home
made by man.
The foremost put on the list for use
fulness and domesticatlon Is the wren.
The only fault l find with these busy bod
les they do not come early or stay late
enough. A fruit can or cigar box is all
they want for a home, and they will re-
pay you thousand times by their early
morning and late evening chatter. But
for an early and late season bird the blue
bird is par excellent. Unlike the wren
who seek the shady retreats-they de-
light in the open sunshine, and when
once domiciled on your premises will
brave early and late storms and
cold to regain and retain the
home and with tenacity preserve it.
You will find in the instincts of many
birds some remarkable habit or Gispo-
sition that man might emulate. The
greatest of these is the self sacrifice and
devotion to their mates and young. |
have known robins to freeze on their
nests to protect their eggs, and blue
birds pine for their lost mates and wrens
die in sorrow for their young.
Blue birds should have home put up
early out of the reach of cats. The
wren and martin houses can be put
up safely one month later than these.
These three varieties of birds will all
stay contented on your place if the
houses are placed apart. They are ex-
clusively insectiverous and never harm
fruit or grain, but the pesky European
sparrows, we have no use for them--they
will not eat bugs nor even worm, but
fruit and grain of all kinds they delight
in. Like the Chinese they are not wanted
here and must go, or they will drive
away all our useful song birds. The Eu-
ropean sparrow has not one redeeming
trait They are neither handsome nor
will they sing. They were evidently
made in vain. guess they came from
some cross of birds and forgot to mix
any good qualities except that of multi
plication, which they beat all birds in.
| almost forgot to mention that most |
birds become attached to US, |
and for friendly acts never
forget one, SO that you can
cultivate kind feeling in them and they |
will recognize and salute you for it. I |
learned that last summer while driving !
away some sparrows from the wren |
and blue bird houses. The sparrows |
were cross and revengeful to me for it, |
while the wrens and blue birds were |
grateful and thankful, ever ready to re- |
pay me by kindly recognition and song, |
even away from the premises. Bright |
eyes and sharp ears have they, quick to |
hear and see, and memories that | never
dreamed Of before.
TT F. BIDWFIJ