Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-05-28
BIRDS AS PROTECTORS
William butcher Tells of Their
Value to Farmers.
KILLERS OF MANY INSECTS.
Well Known Ornithologist, In Strong
Appeal to Save the Birds, Describes
Methods That Could Be Used to
Create Sentiment In Their Favor.


all kinds will soon begin their destruc-
tive work on the farmers crops. To
offset this the following appeal to save
the birds made by William butcher,
chairman of the protection committee
of the American Ornithologists' union,
is of timely interest:
According to the census of 1900 there
were in the United States the enor-
nous number of 5,739,G57 farms, with
a total acreage of S41, POI ,546. The val
uation of these farm lands is placed at
the sum of $20514,0 ,S3S. The labor
of the farmer and fruit grower is re-
paid by products to the value of 81, $780,
11S752 per year. 1t is said that in
sects and rodents destroy products an
nually to the astonishing money value
of S20O,000O0O, even with the birds
as protectors. Try to imagine what
the additional loss would be were all
the birds destroyed.
They are rapidly decreasing in num-
bers, and unless the large and most
vitally interested class of the popula-
ton, the agriculturists, awaken to the
gravity of the situation and absolutely
demand that 10 more beneficial birds
be killed for any purpose whatever
they win soon feel the result in an in
creasing annual loss in actual dollars
and cents. \ difference of 1 per cent
in the value of the farm products in
the United States each year amounts
to the enormous sum of $47,301, 1S7.
Birds are now killed by human agen-
cies for three purposes only-for food,
wantonly by men and boys and for mil
linery ornaments. For food only
very few are shot-that is, the game
birds, and those only during restricted
portions of the year-so they do not
materially effect the result. That many
birds are destroyed wantonly is un-
deniable. Men who claim to be sports
men, but who are not, kill thousands
each year simply for practice in wing
shooting, and boys with their arma-
ment of air guns and pea shooters kill
a far greater number than is realized
by the public.
There is no excuse for shooting the
third class of birds, as their value as
millinery ornaments is far less than
their value as insect destroyers. Be
sides this, contrast the difference in
the money value of the two interests
that are opposed to each other. By the
census of 1900 we find that the total
capital invested in the millinery and
lace trade is $37, ,97O,05G and the value
Of the manufactured goods in 1899
ests side by side, S20,000OOO,00O as
against S3S,O0O,OOO; again, an annual
product of S4,739OOO,OO0 as against
S0S,000000 l ask and wish that l could
shout my question in q voice so loud
and clear that every man, woman and
child in this broad land of ours could
hear it-Have the milliners, with their
paltry interests, any right to jeopardize
the safety of the agricultural inter
ests?
A difference of only per cent in the
annual product Of our farms and gar
dens amounts to more than the entire
millinery and lace interest in the
United States. VIII the farmers and
fruit growers remain silent much Ion
friends, to be killed that a triding in
terest like the millinery trade may
make a few more dollars at the sacri-
fee of so much that is beautiful as
well as of economic value?
The law should be very clear and
explicit upon this point that the pos
session Of the body or plumage of any
Of our native wild birds shall be con
elusive proof that the same was OBJ
tained in violation of the statute. This
would step the wanton killing and
traffic in wild bird plumage at once
and would afford the survivors abso-
lutte protection. Laws to protect birds,
however, no matter how good they
may be. are useless unless they are
enforced or unless there is a public
sentiment in favor of bird protection.
This sentiment is the very goal that
all bird lovers are striving for, and it
may be attained in many different
ways.
For want Of space l suggest only a
few of the many methods that could
De used to create sentiment:
First.-Let the members of the woraen,s
clubs. the Christian Endeavor societies.
the Epworth leagues and the Young Peo-
pies Christian associations have an addi-
uonaI aim. It is TO love Gods wild birds |
rs well as his human children. If all
the members of these bodies will pledge
themselves to refrain from killing their |
little brothers of the air and absolutely I
refuse to wear the plumage of any Wild I
blrds as ornaments, then a great advance /
VIII have been made toward the better /
protection OF our birds.
Second.-Lot the true sportsman insist I
upon it that the pseudo sportsman re- /
spect the laws ana refrain from potting
game birds or killing non-game birds as a .
pastime.
Third.-Have all of the vast number OF /
school children in the country taught
orhlthology in the schools, from the kin
cergarten TO the college, in order that I
they may know the economic value Of /
BIRDS and thus be made their protectors.
Fourth.-Let the farmers clubs and in
ststutes take up the subject Of bird pro-
lection. for 1t is Of vital Importance to
them. There is no other class to whom
the subject appeals so strongly from the
side as to the agriculturist or
the fruit grower. The farmers of the
present day are much more advanced in !
their methods than were their ancestors
even those of n few generations back.
Farming is now done largely on scien-
tihc principles. helped by study and re-
search In chemistry, etc. During the year
1889 the farmers of the United States
paid for labor alone the sum of $365, ,3O5.-
N (taken from twelfth census, 1900, but
The most important helpers that the farm