The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-12-03
VALUE OF BIRDS.

to bird life is: What do birds do in
this world?" About this point center
all our laws for bird protection. We
must first gain by observation and per-
sonal acquaintance with the living
birds of each species, a knowledge of
their ways, foods, and beauties, and
their song, then give the imagination
full play to picture what the whole
species is doing in every farm and gard.
en- and about every home in the land
Probably few people understand the
value of birds or comprehend how close
ly and yet how extensively our lives are
interviewer with other form of life The
general sentiment in regard to them, at
the best, has been that they are harm
less; even interesting and beautiful crea-
lures; but the idea that they are one of
the most important classes of creation,
class upon which the existence of
many other classes depends, has never
been widely prevalent.
Birds are natures check to the increase
of insects.
If insect life were allowed free course
it would soon overpower vegetation and
plant life; therefore animal life includ
ing that of man would be impossible up.
on the globe. This conclusion is quite
astonishing but it is sustained by the
Judgment of every man of science who
has investigated the subject
How long could the ravages of insects
be stayed were the birds gone? We
should have to depend upon few preda-
ceous beetles, the bate, and squirtguns
which throw insecticides.
Think of the aesthetic loss of substitu.
ting these agencies for the sweet spirit
of the wood. Besides not being musical
or charming in action they would not
prove efficient.
l shall now enumerate the value of
some of the birds. Mr.. Forbush of
Massachusetts, said, after examining
stomachs of four chickadees that they
contained 1,02S eggs from the canker.
worm. The stomachs of four others of
the same species contained about 800
eggs and l05 female moths of cauker.
worm. 1t is estimated that a chickadee
may eat 30 female cankerworm moths
per day during the 90 days which these
moths crawl up trees 1t follows that in
this period each chickadee would destroy
137, $50 eggs of the noxious insect.
The stomachs of 2l3 catbirds were ex-
amined and found to contain 44% of
animal matter and 56E vegetable mat
ter.
The chart prepared by Mr. Hodge
shows that the food of the black billed
cuckoo consists entirely of animal
matter This consists of caterpillars,
beetles, bugs and grasshoppers.
The food of the red winged blackbird
was found to be vegetable matter while
the animal matter, mainly insects form
26&. A little more than 1917 consists
of beetles, mostly harmful. Grasshop-
pers constitute five per cent while the
rest of the animal matter is made up of
various insects. The vegetable matter
consists mostly of weed seed which forms
practically the whole food in winter and
81 g of the fare of the whole year. The
principal weed seeds eaten are those of
ragweed, barnyard grass and smartweed.
13% of this vegetable matter consists of
grain Ieeds, corn, wheat, oats. OF this
oats is !. Nearly of its food is made
up Of weed seed and insects injurious to
agriculture, indicating Enthusiastically
that the bird should be protected.
In an investigation Of the food of the
blue jay 300 stomachs were examined,
which showed that animal matter com
prised 24& and the vegetable matter
76% of the birds diet The insect food
is made up of beetles, grasshoppers,
caterpillars and few species Of other
orders, all noxious except some 81 per
cent Of predaceous beetles. In August
the jay, like other birds turns its atten.
tion to grasshoppera which constitute
one fifth of its food. The vegetable
food is varied; 1917 consists of corn,
wheat, oats. Corn is evidently the fav.
orite grain, the greatest part being tax.
eli the first five months, Its favorite
food is acorns and chestnuts which a
to 42&. The other elements Of
food consist Of few wild seeds and
wild fruits among which grapes and
predominant.
Observation of the cedar wax wing
about which so much complaint has
been made on account Of its fondness
for cherries, shows that it is most con.
lined to trees on which the food ripens
earliest. Ia 152 stomachs examined ami.
NAL matter formed only l3ac and vege-
table matter S7ae, which shows that the
bird is not wholly fruit eater.
With the exception of a few snails all
the animal food consisted Of insects
mainly beetler, the elm leaf beetle be-
ng among the number.