The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-09
Enemies Of the Birds.

Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir.--I have been Interested in the dig
cusson in your columns az to the Gauges
of the present scarcity OF game birds in
Virginia and the steps to be taken for
their preservation.
AS to the cause. II was undoubtedly a
hard winter. destroying the grown birds.
followed by "a rainy summer, which
drowned out the young broods Hawks
and vermln, including foxes, minks. etc,
destroy many birds, but with n good
stock to start with and good breeding
season. the effect OF their depredations Is
not very noticeable.
With nearly every place posted, tina
birds are not apt to be extermnated by
any reasonable amount of Legitimate
shooting during the open season. There
are too many pine th!ckets. green brisrs
and swanips In Virginia to permit this.
The birds have other destructive enemies,
however, that are not commonly recog-
nized as such.
Crows destroy both eggs and young
birds. beside taking toll from the cornfieds.
They are so numerous that they probably
do a vast amount of damage in this re-
spect Squirrels also are great robbera
OF nests and destroy both eggs and I'M
mature birds. Hogs running at larEs
destroy and root up everything ealibe
in their range Including nests. eggs.
young birds and even the food upon
which the game subsists. They will
make desert OF any place so far az
animal ana Dlru llIt Is 4CO3CeTHeu. CatS
that run out in the country are extremes
ly destructive to birds and young rabbits.
but the most serious depredations OF all
are committed by dogs pointers. settlers.
hounds or mongrels allowed to run ut
large during the spring or summer. They
soon get in the habit of se]f-hunting, ana
are at 1t nearly all the time 1 have
often seen them banded togethcr.in packs
for mutual assistance. Young birds and
rabbits are their particular object. but
will tpfrpp,Ianflyy ON an ~,
grown bird or a rabbit, especially the lat
ter, nor is farm yard poultry always
safe from their raids A band of dogs OF
this kind will almost depopulate II re-
gion of game, in a short while. and there
should certainly be some restriction plac-
ed upon their ravages
A few brush shelters placed here and
there In the woods and fields during the
winter. and a ewf,bushes OF grain scat
tered where they can get 1t during the
severe winter weather Will be the saliva
ton of many a covey. III there is IL
breeding stock left, the season not too
lmfavorablc and their particular enemies
kept In check n season of scarcity Is
of game.
There is, unfortunately, a great deul of
shooting out of seasonEin Virginia. chiefly
by those landowners who hold the erro-
neous view that they can kill anything
on their own places Whenever they feel
disposed, without regard to laws and this
is fostered by the disnclination that most
people have of informing against a neigh
Dor. A little more activity on the part
or the game wardens and II few convic-
tions In cases OF this kind would have u
most salutary effects
do not imagine that a very consider
able sum Is derived from nonresident IL
censes. This chargeis frequently eyadcd
on some pretense or other. a resident
license of say one dollar per annum would
pay the wardens and furnish fund with
which to restocl1 the depleted localities;
The partridge is u hardy bird and viii
got along without much help II he has
half a chance. A few foreign birds. such
as Mongolian pheasants, etc, misht be
introduced and protected for q tenn OF
years until they should sufficiently In
crease. This would afford q pleasing va
riety to the sportsman ana source or
profit to the farmer as well.
The hunting season might he cut down
To advantage in most counties to- say, the
month OF, November. III need not then
Hbe cut out altogether for several years,
az has been proposed
& Unless Immediate steps are taken tn
preserve tho few birds that remain there
VIII be Very little shooting next season,
Washington. ~. C, q, q