The Greeley tribune., 1908-06-04
GUARD TREES
BIRDS ARE LARGE FACTOR
IN FOREST LIFE
Protect the Birds and Save More
Wealth than You Ever Saw
Plans Forming for
Federal Protection


serving the land. water and forest ~
sources OF the nation il that which ~
ture has provided in the tsatAsrs1
Wild life. says the New York Even
ing Post. Following the conference q
governors In Washington, ofncers a
the national association Of Auduboo
societies have decided to offer tho CO
operation of their organization in this
work of conservation.
Although the workers for bird pro
servation were not represented at the
gubernatorial conclave. government
authorities have assured them that
the protection of the insect eaters
that insure Life to crops should Be oos
Of the practical means to the gense-
al end. Crops flourish and forests
stands to conserve land and water
largely through the activities Of ths
existing bird guard that ceaseleaDly
tights their natural destroyers. the In
vestisators Of the government point
out. Uniform laws for bird protectioA
II adopted by the states. would go Tar
to ward of the inroads of insects and
other pests, they say, and this might
we'll be one of the first steps to be
to be taken.
While the value of the birds to the
farmer. orchardist, and planter has
for years been recognized. it Is be-
lieved that their importance In pre-
serving the forests is not generally
known. According to a recent repert
Of the government, insects alone coaDo
N ann1aI l6es 70 the txues a ~
country estimated at more than e1oo.-
10000.
On the oak alone 400 species Of -
sects which are sought and consuno4
by the birds of the forest. prey co..
stantly. the experts Of the Biologioa
survey have discovered. On the WI
low 1856 such species attempt its do
struction. ON the pine 1855. on the hie6-
ory ITO. on the birch los. and ON ~
elm 80. Careful analysis of the
stomachs of thousands of wood-peck-
ers. wrens. fy-catchers. swallows. nut
patches. and other birds shows that
their constant labor Is to CONSUME
these devastating insects.
Ranked next to the insect. are de-
structive vegetable growths and the
attacks of mice, wood rats. rabbits.
oil
Of their food shows that many species
of wood birds make away with the un-
wholesome vegetable matter. Hawks.
owls. and other larger birds Of prey
are constantly on the watch to check
the inroads of the harmful animal life
about the trees. Robins and other
feathered races. say ornithologists.
are a natural agency for the distribu-
ton of seeds. causing the forests to
thicken, and expand.
"As national asset and resource.
the life and labors Of the birds come
clearly within the scope Of the declar
ration of principles Of the governors
conference" said William butcher.
president Of the National Association
of Audubon societies. today.
1--WE agree with this distinguished
body that this conservation of our ma
tural resources is subject OF trans
cendent Importance which should en-
gage unremittingly the attention OF
the nation. the states. and the people
in earnest cooperation For years
we have labored to force the nation to
see the prime conserving force OF
its bird life on the crops, wood and
waters. That we shall keep up this
fight may be assured. II the govern
ors would ask for uniform laws for
bird protection, feel sure they would
find no better means of forwarding
the great work which they have IN
dertaken."