The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-04-06
ARE BIRDS DESTRUCTIVE?

Gne LOnuOn Dally Mall as autnOflLy
reports that at a recent meeting of the
board of agriculture in England, at
which the question of the valae or
nonvalue of birds to farmers formed
an important subject of discussion, the
matter almost as much in doubt as it
was when the discussion began. One
or two items of interest were afford
ed and are furnished by the Consul.
He writes:
"Opinion among farmers" says the
DAILY Mall" sis hopelessly divided
as to the value of birds to the agri-
culturalist. At discussion held by
the board of agriculture some advo.
Gated the destru ction of what they re-
garded as feathered pests; others
claimed that the birds do more good
than harm. Those most interested in
the subject think that under present
conditions the balance of nature bias
been upset The gamekeepers killed
off the predatory birds, and farmers
clubs give high price for magpies,
jays and others that prey on eggs and
tiedglings. The result is that there is
unquestionab|y an abnormal number
of small birds that do great amount
of damage to crops. The Society for
the Protection of Wild Birds, agrees
that, with some exceptions, the mum
ber of their preteges is increasing; but
it is pointed out that, while the damage
the birds do is palpable, the good they
10 is not so easily noted. A long
series of mild winters has preserved
the birds, especially the soft kinds,
which feed so largely on fruit. 1t is
of these that so many complaints are
now being made by the fruit-growers
in Surry and Kent"
Mr.. Decimus Lingweod, of Ston
ham, Suffolk, writes:
II consider the increasing fondness
of birds for fruit is in great measure
due to the dry summers. Worms,
etc., being difficult to obtain, the birds
turned their attention to fruit, not
only eating it themselves, but bring.
ing up their young, on the same diet.
By the wild birds protection acts
orders are granted by the home secre.
tary to county councils applying the
acts to each county. The shooting or
snaring of wild birds from March l to
August l, except in the case of GER
tain districts where variation has
been secured, usually tor the protec-
ton at all times of rare birds. The
prohibition, except in the latter case
does not apply to the owners or oc.
cupiers of land or persons authorized
by them, so that farmers have great
deal of latitude in the matter"
The Wild Birds Protection Society
points out the fact that there is no
bird fairly chargeable with any ap-
preciable damage which the owner or
tiller of the soil is prevented slaught-
ering at any period Of the year. 1t is
claimed that the division of birds into
inscctivorous and otherwise is mislead-
ing. Few species are either entirely
insectivorous or entirely vegetarian.
And both hard-billed and soft billed
birds include mems allies in the culti-
walton of the ground.
Instances are given of the thrush,
which all the year round snails, slugs,
worms, grubs or chrysalides, but in
n.umar eats strawberries and cur
rants.
The chafinch eats all the years
seeds Of harlock, plantains, groundsel,
knotgrass and other perennial weeds,
and also eats and feeds its young en-
tirely on insects, including leafroller,
Shopper caterpillars and the dreaded
"surface' caterpillars of the diamond
back moth. It will thin out turnips
equal to any farmer and devour new
ly sown cabbage, radish and garden
seeds.
The tits, or tomtits, destroy weevils
and larvae in young buds; admitted
by the board of agriculture to be
among the most useful birds in the
garden and orchard.
The goldfnch eats thistle seeds.
The wren, summer warblers and, dur
ing nesting time, the sparrow destroy
the green fly.
The nuthatch, tree creeper, wry-
neck and woodpecker feed on living
beetles, etc.
Rocks, lapwings, startlings, jack
DAVIS, magpies, nightjar weatear, con-
crake, shrike and jay all eat the de-
destructive cockchafer, wireworm and
leather jacket grubs. They also dig
up young crops, looking for grubs.