New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1908-01-15
CENSUS OF OUR BIRDS
Biological Surveys Plan to Pro-
tect Them More Effectively.
TO APPEAL TO CONGRESS.

Necessary Authority and Money Need
ed Will Be Asked-start Already
Made In Indiana Toward Enumera-
ton of Songsters.
A census of the bird population is
badly wanted by the United States
biological survey, and it is quite likely
one will be attempted, says a Wash
ington correspondent of the New York
Globe Almost every other kind Of
census has been set on foot in the
United States. but thus far there has
never been count Of the robins. the
swallows. the sparrows. the bluejays
and other archaeological varieties.
Nobody has the faintest idea how
many birds are in the United States or
what kind of birds are the most numer-
ous There are various substantial
reasons, as the officials of the biolog-
ical survey say, why bird census
should be taken, and it is expected the
necessary authority and whatever
money is needed for the task will be
asked of congress when the regular
appropriation for the agricultural de.
partment, of which the biological sur.
vey is a part, is made up.
Protection of the birds Of the coun-
try in much more effective fashion
than is now afforded Is the object back
of the proposed bird census. Now
there is little means Of knowing what
Is happening to the birds Of different
species, whether one is increasing OF
diminishing in numbers. Nor can it be
reckoned whether certain species are
as numerous as is economically advan
tageous.
Many birds are Of value to the farm
| er and to humankind generally. anC
scientists who make a study Of the
subject are able to say about how
many there should be per acre or t.
| any given stretch of territory for th'
| purpose of doing the most good ant
! the least injury. If there is to be bet
ter protection for birds, it will b.
worth while to know all possible abou
the number there are in the country o
different varieties.
Already a start has been made to
ward enumeration of the birds 1t ha
been made in Indiana, under the direc
ton Of Professor Forbes, we'll know
In biological circles. 1t has to be don
by observation from one end of tn
state to the other. seeing for them
selves how numerous relatively ar
the different varieties and consultin
with residents freely as to the numbe
OF birds observed about farmhouse
and other residences, the number O
mating pairs and the like
The different states are doing grea
deal for bird protection, but there sti
remains much to be done Large nun
bers are ruthlessly slaughtered One G
the chief instrumentalities for KILN
off birds are the Italian colonies tha
are scattered about the country, alon
railroads in repair or conStructio
principally. Birds are killed for foo
by the million in Italy, and the TIA
ians do the same thing here.
Before there can be any adequat
bird protection it will be necessary I
have international understanding an
regulations on the subject. Sugge
lions to undertake bird protection /
an international way have been mad
from various countries, but this 90,
eminent has given them little counte
nance. The fact is, however, tn:
great numbers of the birds Of tt
United States are killed off while the
are away at their winter resorts
South America. They are slaughtere
there largely for millinery uses, an
legions of birds that go down to IL
equatorial regions when winter com.
on return only as ornaments to be o,