Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-05-24
PROTECTION OF BIRDS
TITS ADUTY AND SHOULD BE A
PLEASURE.


Work Night and Day - Without Birds the
World Would Become Uninhabitable-
the Boys to Protect the Birds.
Prof Lawrence Bruner in Nebraska University
Bulletin.
The fact that insect depredations
are increasing in extent each succeed
ing year makes it plain to us that
something must be done to prevent it,
and that quickly. We have found to
our sorrow, that although we are con.
tinually making increased efforts to
destroy these pests, our efforts avail
but little and the destruction Of our
crops 60 on. What, then, is to be
done? How can we be released from
this ever increasing struggle for exist
ence?
The answer is plain. Heed the ad-
vice of the naturalist who has made a
study of the life-histories of the var
ious other living creatures in the world
about us. Do not condemn what he
says without at least examining into
it little.
In his desire for bird protection the
naturalist is not prompted by senti'
ment alone--far from it! Although
from the sentimental standpoint solely
the friend OF birds would have suffi.
cient grounds for making such re.
quest.
"To appreciate the beauty Of form
and plumage of birds, their grace OF
motion and musical powers, we must
know them." "The ease with which
we may become familier with the
feathered neighbors robs ignorance OF
all excuses" "Once aware OF their
existence, and we shall see a bird in
every bush and find the heavens their
pathway. One moment we may ad-
mire their beauty of plumage, the next
marvel at the ease and grace with
which they dash by us or circle high
overhead" The comings and goings
of our migratory birds in springtime
and fall, their nest-building and rear
ing of young, their many regular and
beautiful ways as exhibited in their
daily lives, stir within us impulses for
kindness toward the various creatures
which share the world with US. but
birds will appeal to US most strongly
their song. When your ears
are attuned to the music of birds, your
world will be transformed. Birds
songs are the most eloquent OF natures
voices: the gay carol of the grosbeak
in the morning, the dreamy, midday
call OF the pewee, the vesper hymn oi
the thrush, the changing of geese in
springtime, the farewell of the blue
bird in the fall-how clearly each one
expresses the sentiment of the hour or
seasonw
But if we cannot take up the subject
of bird protection from the humane
standpoint, if we have no chord OF
sympathy or sense of honor remaining,
are we willing to adopt business prin-
ciples in our dealings with the birds?
Quoting from a paper by Professor
S. A. Forbes, who has done much in
the line OF bird study in their direct
relations to man, we have the follow.
ing: Excluding the inhabitants ol
the great seas, birds are the most
abundant of the vertebrate, occupying
in this great sub-kingdom the same
prominent position that insects dc
among invertebrate animals" Thi.
position of the two groups in their re-
spective divisions OF the animal life ol
the globe cannot be due simply te
chance. There must be some connec
ton between them. What is it?
1t is needless here for me to STATE
that the insect life about us is numer
GUS and varied. We all know this K
be too true. Nearly, if not quite, nine
tenths OF all animal forms belong here
while the individuals Of man!
kinds are incalculable. We know alst
that their powers Of reproduction ar
simply wonderful, being limited onl!
by the amount of food available, etc
Now, the disproportionate number o
birds on the other hand, with thei
universal distribution, the remarka
BILE locomotive power which enable
them readily to escape unfavorabl
conditions, and their higher rate O
life, requiring for their maintenance
an amount Of food relatively enor
NOUS" give to them = significanc
which few seem ever to have realized.
Briefly told, the economic relation
OF birds to man lies in the service
which they render in checking the un
due increase of insects and worm'
the devouring of small rodents, in d.
stroying the seeds of noxious weeds
and by acting as scavengers on Ian
and water.
Those who have studied the subjet
carefully have estimated that a loss {
nearly $4OO,OOO,OOO is sustained a,
nually by the cultivators of the so
from insect ravages in the Unite
States and Canada. This does not il
clude the damage done to ornaments
lshrubbery, shade and forest trees, nj