The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-03-30
Value and Abuse of Our Native Birds

EDITOR OF CECIL WING:
Will you kindly allow me space in the
columns of your valuable paper, to say "A few
words to those of your readers who are inter-
ested in the promotion and advancement of
agriculture, Of the value. and also the abuse
of our native birds?
At this delightful spring season, now upon
us, it is no uncommon thing to see our far
mers boys, yes and boys from our towns.
go out with their guns to shoot IA mess OF
robins or arks." and every thing in the bird
line, large and small, that comes in their way
falls = prey to their ruthless slaughter.
Now if our agriculturaists only knew it,
these providers are destroying their best
friends, many times the friends on which de-
ponds the success or failure of their crops.
for it takes myrads of insects to feed these
thousands of feathered creatures, which in
early spring depend solely upon them for
subsistence.
1t should also be borne in mind that all of
our native birds. except crows. hawks, owls,
blackbirds and gamebirds in season, are pro-
tected by law, and anyone caught shooting
them or with dead ones in their possession, is
liable, upon conviction, to a fine of from So
to 1915, for each and every bird so found; so
that those who destroy these protected birds
are lawbreakers, of a serious character.
Another thing that is practiced generally
during the winter months is the trapping of
cardinals or cred Bird" for the purpose of
caging them for pets | do not know whether
this practice would come under the law for
their protection or not, but to say the least, it
is cruel and shameful to deprive these beauti-
full birds of their liberty. for are they not much
more beautiful in the joyous freedom which
the Creator intended for them So with all
our native birds.
| Occasionally some one turns up in cur
county who is shooting birds for their plum
age. These birds are shipped to the cities
and there skinned and used us trimming
principally for womens head gear. hats. etc
| The season for these depredations is during
the spring and early summer, when the birds
have what is known as their bridal plum
age"
Now the farmers want to keep their eyes
| open and nab the first of these fellows who
! puts in an appearance and make an example
of him. 1t will take very few examples to
stop such business. There however is an old
saying that 'charity begins at home" 50 our
farmers must first stop killing these birds
themselves, no matter for what purpose, then
keep their boys from it, and by such example
much good can be accom- plished.
Then right here, if the women of our
county will boycott all hat trimming made
from the feathers Of our native birds the de-
mand will be lessened at home and others
may follow their example.
The wearing of stuffed birds, bird wings
heads with glass eyes etc, is nothing but
relic of barbarism any way, and believe it is
growing much in disfavor among the right
thinking omen of our country. May il con-
| tinue to grow so.
We have with us Il bird that is probably
known to us all, in name at least. it is the
ENGLISH sparrow (passer domesticus). That
bir is a pest all agree, and there are none
who know it so well as our friends who live
in the towns. where this bird is most album
dant, although it is rapidly making its way
iiilo eho country. IL 10 very ueStIuttiNt W
young fruit trees, destroying many of the
buds, it also destroys great deal of grain. in
fields and stacks, besides making itself gen.
eral nuisance. These birds also drive nearly
all of the native birds away from the places
they inhabit. If proper methods are taken
these birds can at least be kept from country
places, but it requires constant warfare, as
one must kill them as fast rs they appear SO
they do not get a foothold. But the first
thing is to know them when you see them, 50
that our native birds two of which resemble
the English sparrow somewhat will not suffer
in consequence. Those which closely resem-
BILE them are the song sparrow and grass
finch" The song sparrow is the only one
that lives near our residences
Agriculturalists, take care of our native
birds. See to it that they are not ruthlessly
destroyed or else the day may come when
profitable agriculture will be impossible on
account of the birds having been driven from
around us, by the hands that would destroy
them, and those who now look compacently
at their slaughter, will rue their action, when
1t is too late to recall or regain them. G.
ELKroN, MD, March 25, 1895.