The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-24

inc NTH grade it seems we'll 10 con-
unue our study of this great group of
birds, which contains representatives
of so many families. and TO include
all insect-eating birds-with the ex-
ception of the waders-the food of
which is made up OF at least 50 per
cent Of animal matter
The emblem bird has been selected
because not the least of the circum-
stances in its favor is the fact that
II is almost of unrestricted distribu-
ton, and il is known 10 practically
everybody. This familiarity or gen
eral acquaintance with the bird is one
OF the chief reasons for its selection;
Tor, with the robin, as with so many
snings and creatures which we sup
pose we know thoroughly, the Insight
flcance of what we really know, in
comparison with what we may sup
pose We know, is appalling. With this
bird, as with many other common
things we have assumed to know, and
have taken little or no pains 70 in
form ourselves. though the facts were
at our very doors.
The Robin.
The western robin-our Utah form
differs from the eastern bird in some
particulars, which singly seem of lit
tie concern, yet when taken together
are sufficient 10 lead Ornithologists TO
give TO our robin sub-specific rank
differences in size, color. etc.
This bird is very generally distrib-
uted over our state, and to a consid-
cradle extent is a residential all
events, he may be found. especially in
The canyons, during the entire year.
II may be that those birds that rear
their broods in Utah go 10 the south
ward, while birds of more northern
range stop with us for the winter.
When I was making an investiga-
ton Of the food habits of this bird
some two years ago, / sent out more
than 100 letters and received answers
10 about one-half of them. These an
swers came from eighteen counties
from Box Elder. Cache and Rich on
the north; from Weber. Morgan. Da-
Wis, Salt Lake. Utah, Sanpete and Sc
vier, in the central portion of the
state; from Uintah and Grand on the
east: from San Juan and Washington
on the south. and from Beaver. Juab
and TOOele on the west. From this il
appears that the robin is 10 be found
tn practically every part of the state,
though it was reported as being more
numerous in some localities than in
others.
While robins seem to prefer to make
their homes near or about the homes
of men, yet it does not follow that
they are dependent upon men for
nesting sites. We found them numer-
Gus I'm the canyons, over at DOremus.
and they nestled in numbers far UP on
the mountains.
They are TO be met with about the
garden and orchard. I'm the fields and
about pasture fields; in the streets of
the city as we'll as in more retired To-
a = INN of fVaf
Food of the Robin.
The food OF these birds has some
times caused apprehension TO fruit
growers, and has led some owners of
orchards cherry orchards in particu-
lar-tO adopt the short-sighted policy
Of killing them, because they do dam
age 10 the cherry CROP.
Robins are fond of cherries and some
other small fruits; and TO the posses
sor of choice varieties the reasons for
the preservation and protection of
robins may not appear TO be conclu-
sive. But the examination Of 500 stom-
achs by the biological survey at
Washington has thrown some very
clear light upon the food habits of the
robin.
1t was found that nearly 50 per cent
OF the robins food is made up of
-
spiders. anglewOrms and snails. Dur
ing the grasshOpper season the robin,
IN common with other birds, feeds 10 a
considerable extent on these insects.
A little more than 80 per cent of this
birds food consists of vegetable mat
ter, and of this all but about per
cent is wild fruit
From this it will be seen that though
the robin may do, and sometimes does,
not a little damage TO individual fruit
growers, this damage, in proportion TO
the good work accomplished, is so mi
mute that 1t is not 10 be seriously con-
sidered.
Attention might be directed to the
fact that the injury caused by the
robin appears TO be much greater and
less eXcusabie because in this, as in
other characteristics, he works openly |
and above board: and that while he
steals cherries. he is shouting to all
the neighborhood just what he is
doing. There is the further considera-
tion 10 be given weight here, and that
is that the damage done is OF such a
character that IL does not escape OBJ |
ServatiOn. The man who has a choice |
fruit trees. and seees that fruit de- |
spoiled under his very nose, is pretty !
apt to have definite opinions concern
ing the one responsible for the mis- |
chief, while the good work done month /
after month by these birds is not of |
such character as TO be noticed by /
most people.
The robin is not wholly TO blame for |
the damage he does for several seasons. !
The regions which used to bear ma
tural fruit and food for these birds
have been cleared and put to other
uses. Further, no attempt has been
made 10 give the birds food which |
would be quite as acceptable to them
as the cherries. and so, while depriv-
ing them Of their natural food sun
plies, and giving them nothing in lieu
thereof. cultivated fruit. which, as the
robins have learned. is a very good l
substitute for the wild forms. has been
placed within easy reach and made II
readily accessible.
So far as my observation has ex- II
tended. no one has thought the birds II
of sufficient Importance or signif- II
canoe to plant a few mulberry trees
out of the way places for II
them. or 10 give a corner of the gar 1
den or orchard to some of the Wild II
fruit bearing shrubs and vines which II
would be visited by the birds IL Il
preference TO cultivated fruit II
Rear I'm mind i'm connection with fhiss