River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-09-02
farmers should do their best to cult
demonstrates that

farmers should do their best to culti-
vate woodpeckers. They leave no marks
on healthy trees. On the contrary they
uHerringly trail down the wood-boring
Iarva, and dislodge and devour them.
II is a picnic for "a Nvoodpecker to catch
these tree killers. They eat them with
as much satisfaction and qualification
as a summer girl manifests over a dish
of ice cream. 1t usually happens that
after these wood-boring larva are de-
stroyed, the holes are filled with col
onies os ants. Do the woodpeckers
leave them to thrive there? Not much,
they like ants pretty well, too; and
they watch those holes carefully, well
knowing that they will have an epicu-
rean festival of ants aftera little while;
and consequently they keep the trees
clean all the time. 1t is their business
and pleasure TO do so. Two flicker
woodpeckers' stomachs were examined
in the laboratory, and they each con-
tanned 5000 ants, besides the wood bor-
ing larva. Those were good wood
peckers, and ought to have been keeps
and cultivated by the farmers firesides
as near neighbors and close friends.
The official bulletin has a good word
also for the red headed woodpecker.
1t is admitted that this bird is guilty
of tapping trees and drinking the sap.
1t has been discovered, however, that
very few trees are seriously injured;
although some have died within a year
or two, after being Slapped by these
red-headed fellows. The professor
says, however, that 1.-The bird captures
millions of insects which are attracted
by the sweet sap, and the tree tapping
is largely for the purpose of catching
insects. 1t is probable that the red
head fully compensates for the damage
done by sapsucking, in consuming so
many insects"
The kingbird comes in for a word of
praise. He is distinctly fly catcher
aud takes large portion of his food on
the wing The kingbird also watches
the trees closely, and gathers in all
sorts of insects. This bird has been
suspected of catching honey bees; but
an Iowa farmer says that he shot a
dozen kingbirds near his hives, and
found not a single bee in any one of
their stomachs. Therefore he con-
cludes that the kingbird is guiltless of
this charge; modified by the fact that in
various parts of the country IA king
birds were killed, and 40 drone bees
were found in their stomachs. Isn't
that wonderful? How in the realm Of
intelligence could those birds know
that the drones were proper prey, while
the working bees and queens must be
spared?
The meadow lark is complimented
because Of the fact that it feeds al
most wholly upon insects. In 23s
stomachs examined, ii was discovered
that % per cent of the food of the birds
consisted of insects alone. 1t nests on
the ground. and walks about with
dainty step, knowing that it is a well
come visitor and therefore not in fear
of human assault. The meadow lark
is wholly beneficial, and is not guilty
of the common charge of pulling sprout-
ing grain. Itloves fat bugs and beetles,
and takes grasshoppers and caterpil-
lars also, whenever they can be found.
Even when the ground is covered with
snow. this bird finds insects somehow,
and does not seek the granaries, 1t is
a very slillful insect catcher.
This letter contains only an epitome
of the proof presented in favor of the
farmers friend. the common birds.
SMITH d FRY