The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-14
Same Of our Useful Birds.

At the present rate of destruction II
is only a question of time when we
will be living in a birdless world, says
the DpItomist The efforts of the dif-
ferent societies for the protection OF
birds are doing much to check the tue
of destruction. but they must nave
the assistance of the farmers and fruit
growers all over the country, Defore
their efforts can be crowned with COM
plete success. A large per cent. OF the
Two or three hundred kinds of birds III
America are beneficial in some way to
the farmer. They not only destroy
many noxious insects. but are usetul
for the refining influence which they
exert over the mind OF man.
This would be dreary world
II there were no birds, no re-
turn of the dear old songsters OF
spring. Ire quail is one of the most
useful of our game birds. 1t destroys
more chinch bugs than any other bird.
If the farmer would only study its
habits and fully realize the great num-
Der of these pests a single quail will
consume in one day they would give II
better protection. The oriole family
are as a whole very useful birds. The
Baltimore oriole will become quite
tame and often nest near the farm
buildings If unmolested. 1t destroys
many caterpillars and other injurious
insects found among the shade. trees
and orchards. The meadow lark be-
longs TO the same family, but has very
different habits. This bird can be seen
almost every day. in this latitude,
roaming over the fields and meadows
from early morn till night searching
for it's food. A careful study of the
habits of the meadow lark will show
that the principal part of its food con-
sists of grasshoppers, beetles and other
insects. While farmers as a whole do
not look upon it as an injurious bird,
they do not protect 1t from the hunter
as they should. 1t is true that it is
listed as a game bird that may be
killed during certain seasons of the
year, but this is no reason why farm
ers may not keep them from being
killed on their own land, If every one
would do this there would not be near
so many killed. The blackbird does
more harm than any other member of
the oriole family, and II has some good
traits. l have often seen them in large
fiocks hunting for insects. They will
follow the pillow all day picking up
every grub and worm that is turned
up. The crow is generally classed as
very doubtful and many farmers con-
does destroy some corn and in the
spring sometimes pulls up young corn.
However, IL has some good qualities
/ have seen crows feeding on insects
even In the corn field without eating
any of the corn. Last year / had a
forty-acre field that was covered with
army worms. The crows were not long
in finding 1t out. Hundreds of them
came to this field early every morning
and remained until night They kept
this up till they had destroyed all the
worms, not giving them time to do any
damage. In this instance the crows
were very beneficial to. me. The mock
ing bird, brown thrasher, cat bird and
house wren all feed more or less on
insects. The cat bird eats more fruit
than any of, the others, but the good
II does in destroying the enemies of
the horticultural more than pays for
what fruit Ii consumes. If there are a
few wild cherry trees near It will not
eat much other fruit. The brown
thrasher likes TO build its home among
the grape vines and make itself useful
by keeping the insects off the leaves.
The wren, though very small, is one
of the most useful birds, as its food
consists almost entirely of insects. II
suitable places are fixed for them to
nest in, they will stay near the house
and be of much benefit in keeping the
Garden and orchard free from insect
pests The blue bird has not received
as kind treatment as 1t deserves. 1t
is a much better bird than most farm
ers think. / have watched 1t very
closely and find that Il eats great
many moths and beetles that infest
| our orchard. The blue bird will build
| its nest I'm the orchard IL II can find
| suitable places. A few boxes placed
| in the apple tree for that purpose will
| be very acceptable to the birds, and OF
much benefit TO the orchard. as they
destroy more insects while rearing
their young than at any other time
The woodpeckers are another class Of
birds that are very beneficial to tbs
orchardist. There are several species
OF them, only one, the sap sucker, be-
ing harmful. The red-head can accu
rately locate a borer I'm an apple tree
and with it's stout bill and peculiar
tongue soon gets him out. The golden
winger woodpecker or yellow hammer
destroys many grubs and worms
around the old stumps and defectiv,
trees We should study the habits o.
our bird neighbors more than we d,
and not be too quick 20 condemn then
when we see them taking a few Der
ries. BY watching them very closel,
we will find that many times the-
have a right TO eat a little fruit, al
they have helped TO keep the insects