The weekly true Democrat., 1908-03-27
SPARR OUR BIRD LIFE.
Florida Birds Worth Their Weight Ia
Gold.

kloft4A nlfao WoFtn lholf weight ~
Gold.
''Kirk Munro" says : Florida is pre-
eminently an agriculture state, and
fruit-raiSing Ia its chief industry. The
hardest fight Of the fruit-EroWerB Is
against the hOarns Of insects, aphide8,
ants, buds, beetles, caterpillars, grass
hOppers, flies and grubs that devote
their entire energies not only TO the de-
structiOn Of his own crop, but Of his
trees, which they attack in leaf, bark
and root. He fights them with sprays
washes and fumigatiOns, and perhap
sueceed8 in destroying one beetle out q
q thousand, one aphis In q million, and
one ant out Of each billion. His efforts
Ore expensive, more or less injurious,
and ridiculous in their inefficiencY. In
spite Of them he would quickly be
driven out Of business were it not for
an army Of trained allies, alert, sharp
eyed, tireless, and eager 70 devote their
time to his service without pay.
mean, of course, the birds, without
which our fair state would quickly be-
come not only nOn-prOductive, but alb
sOlutely uninhabitable. A noted French
scientist has declared that without birds
70 check the ravages of Insects human
life would vanish from this planet
within the short space OF nine years
and venture the prediction that IN half
that time no one of US could live in
Florida were our birds sud euiy 70 leave
for places where their services are bet
ter appreciated.
In our inconceivable folly we Of Flor
dR never hesitate to kin a bird, if
seized with an inclination to do so. A
little gray-coated chap, fitting from
tree to tree, in search Of the insects
that are sapping their life, offers a
tempting mark, and we blaze away
with q twenty. two rifle, just b see Il
we can hit him. To kill him Is such an
expensive form Of amusement that it
would be more economical to charge our
rifle with q golden bullet and FIRE Il into
the sea. A fruit-grOWer spies q red
bellied WOOdpecker sampling his ripe
peaches, and instantly declares q war of
determination against the whole family.
He had better retire from business at
once and save the further expense Of
caring for his orchard, for without the
expert aid Of the WOOdpecker his efforts
can only result in failure.
A boy is allowed 70 catch a young
ndOcking- or a red-bird, and sell Il
TO a tourist for 90 cents. The state is
made at least 500 poorer by the act.
IL would be cheaper in the end to give
away golden birds Of the same weight. |
A meadoW-lark, or each one of a
cOyey Of quail, in q ten-acre tomato
field earns $40 in a single season as an
insect-destrOyer. Yet we not only
shoot these birds Ou olves, but we in
vite our friends from Tar and wide to |
come and help US destroy them as
though they were pest we are desir-
iOus 10 abate.
Besides the insectivorOus birds upon |
whose efforts we are absolutely depend |
ent for success in every branch of agri- |
culture, there are those Of inestimable |
value as tourist attractOrs-Was there |
ever q nOrtherner in Florida who did not |
listen eagerly for his first mOcking-bird
song, or watch with delight the fishing
of a pelican Ishe not willing TO spend
money for the sight of a fiamngO, a
roseate spOOnbill, or a woOd-ibis land
does he not exclaim with pleasure at q
flashing glimpse of a parakeet or a
nonPareil He is willing to pay liber-
ally for such sights as these, and we
Ae1S given ulu just cause 70 COuplhLn
Of the absence of bird life along our
coasts and inland waterways. A few
years ago these swarmed with birds
whose movements were of the greatest
interest to our winter visitors. Now
they are silent and deserted, despoiled
of chief attraction by plume and skin
hunters who have robbed us without 80
much as saying, thank you"
We take every precaution TO prevent |
thief from stealing even the most
trifiing Of our possessions, and at the
same time make no effort TO dissuade |
che gunner from shooting the birds
upon whose existence depends our very
livelihood. Queer, isn't it2