The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-02-07

codling moth, cut worms, and the
tent caterpillar. Nearly all of these
insects are detrimental to the farm
ers' crops.
The early arriving birds, as the
robins, red wings, chickadees and
bluebirds are of greatest service as
they destroy the insects before the
latter have deposited eggs for the
season. The chickadee, our merriest
and tamest bird, is of high economic
value. Any day, either in winter or
summer we can find him hopping
about on our tree trunks feeding
upon the insects or insect eggs found
under the bark or around the buds.
A single breakfast consisting Of
$500 plant lice eggs signifies the
greatness of his work.
Since such be the aid of these
tiny citizens it would seem that we
would increase their numbers. 1t
would seem that we would take steps
to domesticate them and add them
to our list of animals useful to man.
On the contrary, there has been a
falling off in the numbers. During
the last fifteen years there has been
an average decrease of 46 per cent
in thirty states and territories.
Three states, Oregon, California and
North Carolina, show neither in
crease nor decrease. Four states
Kansas, Wyoming, Washington and
Utah-have an increase. The re-
naming states and territories show
a decrease ranging from Is per cent
in Montana to 10 per cent in Ne
braska. Idaho has decrease of 40
per cent.
This decrease is due to several in
fuences. The food supply of the
birds is factor to be seriously con-
sidered. With the incoming of man,
a great part of the natural foods of
birds is destroyed and nothing is
given them in return. IF the birds
repair to the gardens and fields
they are branded as thieves and are
punished as such. The climate often
has a severe influence. Snow storms
and sleet kill off great numbers of
birds as they are migrating south
ward. This happened to the blue
birds in 1895 and 1898. The power
of some of our best birds is often
crippled in this way. Again, drought
occurring in breeding regions makes
the food and water so scarce that
numbers of nestlings perish. Cats
are the worst enemies of bird life.
These creatures have absolutely no
economic value. A cat is useful
only as a pet. 1t Is true that cats
destroy rats and mice, but it is also
true that an intelligent use of
poisons and traps is far more eff
fective. Persons who value cats as
pets should see to it that they have
food other than young robins, gros-
beaks and song sparrows. The Eng
lish sparrow is also largely respon-
sible for the great decrease in our
song birds. These sparrows are
pirates of the worst degree. They
break up the nests of song birds and
devour their young. Where there
are large numbers of English spar
rows there are very few small birds
Of other species.
Now, why need this decrease in
our bird population be? If the ma
jority of our best people are begin
ming to recognize and display the
aesthetic sentiment that birds pay
for their board and lodging by their
and song, why should
we not develop our love of the
beautiful also? There would be a
greater number of prettier homes in
IDAHO if we would begin. When the
problem of successful farming Is
becoming more serious each year as
he population increases, why should
We not interest ourselves in an at
empt to solve it? Our bird life Is a
public property whose resources
hould be developed to the utmost.
Dur birds should be protected by
avs which are both respected and
enforced.