The Greeley tribune., 1904-05-19
BIRD WORLD
REASONS WHY FEATHERED
CREATURE is VALUABLE,
Good Chance to Study Habits
Now.-Some Bird Pictures
by John V. Crone.
ficult FeatS.

The season is here when birds
mate and build their nests. Some
already have their temporary homes
made and the good bird wife is busy
Matching out the young, while papa
bird is rustling for worms and insects
The same activity in bird society can
be seen in the city as in the country,
but some how or other, there is a
charm in watching the little feath-
cred creatures in the country that Is
not found in the city. Not because
the birds are much different in their
habits, but because there are so
many artificial objects in the city to
detract ones attention from living
nature. For that reason an after
Moons visit to the country at this
time would be not alone productive
OF rest, but of pleasure and profit
Trees, hedges and fields are literally
alive with birds of various species,
some OF graceful forms, some with
rich plumage and still Others that
have the gift of song All furnish
valuable food for study and create an
interest in nature that cannot help
making the student the happier aud
better for, his knowledge. People
generally are just beginning to realize
the value OF birds from an economic
point of view as we'll as for their
moral influence upon those who will
make closer acquaintance with
them.
Once upon time there seemed but
one way to hunt birds; that was with
a gun and then study his habits after
he was dead. This method never
did increase the knowledge OF this
kind of ornithologist to any alarming
extent. The true ornithologist, how
ever, would pursue his study in an
entirely different manner and to him
we are indebted to even the limited
knowledge OF the subject now en-
loved. Instead Of gun he uses a
camera. 1t is also due to him that
the present laws of the country for
the protection of birds have been
enacted and there are but few birds
now that have not the protection of
law almost as fully as have their
human brothers, and birds that a
few years ago were hunted and killed
because of their supposed dep!edatory
fabits are now protected as beneficial
to mankind. Such, for instance, as
hawks, owls and others There are
that are not protected, and these
three are exceedingly rare, and of the
owls, the horned species is the only
one that a hunter is at liberty to
kill, it having been found thai all
others, while they may at times
enjoy meal OF young chicken.
destroy more than enough field ami
mails that are menace to crops to
make up for their taste for chicken.
In seeking information about the
habits and benefits OF birds, the
writer naturally went to John V.
Crone, curator ut the State Normal,
who has perhaps a better acauain-
tance with the birds Of this section
than any other man in northern Col.
orado. Perhaps it was because the
first mention of the word bird always
brings to mind the robin, or maybe
it was the presence Of member OF
that family. that was hopping about
within few feet Of the interviewed
and interviewer. gathering his morn
ing meal, that caused the converse
tion to begin with this family. The
robin" said Mr.. Crone, "has con-
siderable number OF enemies among
men, because OF taste for fruit that
he does try to satisfy during berry
and cherry season. But IL the fruit
grower would stud1 the habits Of the
bird closer he would discover that he
kills an enormous amount OF insects
that infest the orchard and garden
when the trees are in bloom, III
then the bird collects little toll by
eating small portion of the fruit
that he himself has saved the fruit
raiser should not take this amiss. 1t is
only his due. 1t is not alone in the
fruit trees that the robin is great !
help, but il you watch one closely |
for a while when he is running |
across your lawn you will probably |
see him eat up a considerable num- |
her of moths that would otherwise |