Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18
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5! Slaughter of Birds in Italy.
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before one quail is ready for cooking
and another is begun on.
But, as I said before, | visited not
only the town markets, but also the
contrivances for sharing in the hills
above the lakes, known to me during
my former visit. There, too, found
everything as before. The smaller
establishments still consist usually of
a roccOlO, and near this in the larger
ones a pressanella, several passata
(these three expressions denote the
most common methods of sharing by
nets), and often, little to one side,
a decoy. Near by destruction awaits
the birds at every turn in the shape
of -raps, lime, cages, nets, etc, and
these instruments of death have been
added to and improved since my last
visit. I have nothing new to report
| concerning the decoy birds and their
| use. That large number of birds
are still entrapped in this way was
betrayed, in spite of unfriendly
autumn weather, by the loud singing
in the neighborhood. Here also | met
with the same complaints, there are
no more birds, every year there are
| fewer, and in spite of the fact that
! they cost twice as much as formerly
| the business does not pay.
Now, | believe l have collected
enough facts to prove once more that
| the European bird world is steadily
! disappearing. Our migrating birds
with some few exceptions Of black
| birds, finches and starlings-wander
today exactly as they did in former
years, and their routes remain the
same; what else, then, can be the
reason for their steady decrease in
! Italy except that their number is
! growing smaller?
However, I am very far from at
tributing the disappearance of our
, birds solely to their destruction in the
south. By no means. Their disap-
pearance is in a greater degree the
consequence Of constantly improving
methods in farming and forestry, by
which the birds are robbed of the
necessary conditions of their exist
ence, and in particular of their op-
portunities for nesting and breeding.
But this destruction in Italy may be
considered a very important second
factor, for through it the already
rapidly disappearing migratory birds
are now being entirely eXterminated
For that reason the Italian bird trade
is more destructive now than former
ly, because the birds, undisturbed in
able to resist the one attack from the
side of man. Now, however, when an
enemy appears in the guise of science
itself, they are attacked by double
war Of determination, to which they
must soon succumb, unless some
power intervenes to save them.
The conclusion we reach is this,
that for the preservation and propa-
cation of our birds we must contend
with both enemies; therefore, let us
not only provide the birds with the
necessary conditions of their exist
ence, above all for nesting and breed
ing (the hanging of our nesting
cages, construction of thickets for
their protection, food for winter, de-
struction of bird enemies), but also
take care that Italy too, adopts the
strict bird laws already accepted, and,
f1et us hope, enforced by most Of the
European countries
| have endeavored to ascertain
= JCrhO ont toll hot l.
themselves think of the bird trade,
and how its prohibition would be
taken, and | can only say that for the
greater part | have met only with
very reasonable opinions The people
see the harm they are doing both to
themselves and others by destroying
the birds, and many complained of
the great increase of insect plaques;
even found some realization of the
ethical side of the question. But
everywhere I met with the same ex-
cuse, and l must admit a justifable
one, that the same thing was being
done in othe- countries and partic-
ularly with us, in eternally preaching
moral Germany, where the thrush
trade (fieldfares) is still allowed
| unfortunately could not conceal
my identity as the herald of this sad
truth, for my article on Universal
Bird Protection, It's Origin and Fur
therance,'' is also translated into
Italian, and has had quite a large cir
culation there. The passage to which
l allude runs as follows: "But have
we any right to forbid the bird trade?
Can We even reproach the Italian with
the fact that he hunts our birds, as
long as we ourselves in the same way
destroy those birds that come down
from the north seeking our hospitali-
ty? Most certainly not Before we
can dictate to the south, we must
look nearer home"
l have not written this article
exactly for the Italians, but it is
nevertheless true, and the truth
should be known by all. Therefore
first Of all let us do away with this
abomination in our own land. This |
consider to be the first condition for
success in the undertaking, and then
only can we hope that Italy, too, will
join in the universal movement to
protect the European bird-world
Therefore, let me once more exhort
to energetic action before it is too
late, for these observations made in
Italy speak only too plainly and I'M
mistakably against any further delay
in this matter-Translated by I. B.,
from the German of Hans Freiherr
Won Berlepsch.