The Washington herald., 1909-04-11
SEEK TO SAVE BIRDS
New York Farmers Fighting
Feather Dealers.
SONGSTERS DESTROY INSECTS
Interests Demand Leg
islRtiOn that VIII Stop Slaughter
OF Feathered Species that Protect
Growing CrOPs-LOss Through In
sects Is SI,OOO,OOO,OOO a Year.

New York April 10-Opposed solely by
a designing band Of Broadway feather
dealers. the farming forces OF this state
are fighting a desperate battle for a law
which viii fully protect the wild birds
that they know can alone save their crops
from insect pests.
Headed by the National Association of
Audubon Societies and the state grange.
with a membership Of $500 working
farmers. every agricultural interest IN
the Empire state is lined up 70 demand
such measures 20 prevent the butchery
OF the tnsect-oating and non-game birds
as have begun 90 benefit the farm lands
OF Iowa, Massachusetts. Michigan. Lou
.s.ana. South Carolina and West Vir-
ginia. Unless the professional traders IN
the scalps OF these slaughtered songsters
are now made 10 respect the economic
value OF their prey, it IS declared. the
orchar6ists AID agriculturists Of the
whole country VIII soon suffer by the
increase Of every form or insect plague
Bird Life at stake.
Declaring that the valuable bi-5 re-
sources Of the American people are al
stake or the principle OF this battle OF
The New York farmers against the com
mercial feather hunters. clifford Pinchof
head OF the National Conservation Com
mission, has come out in srro7g
support OF the proposed legislation. Tet-
tiers OF warm Endorsement of this cam
paign have also been received AZ tbe
Audubon headquarters here from @
Cox. president Of the New York Academy
OF Sciences, Madison Grant. chairman OF
the executive committee Of the New York
geological Society; DR.. Raymond A. Pear
son. New York State commissioner OF
agriculture, and F. P. Felt. the state
ent0moiogist F. y Godfrey. master Of
the state Grange. has already actively
enlisted. with all his forces. in the fight
Haf Of the daily food OF the crow
biackbird alone IS made up or the insect
pests that destroy tn crops, II has been
proven by expert examination OF $50
siomachs Of these wild birds. the results
or which are being submitted 70 the legis-
lators here by DR. T s. Palmer, Of the
governments Department Of Agriculture
Effective Check 20 Insects.
With others OF tho non-game species
that it IS proposed 10 protect here. these
birds have been shown 10 be the only
effective check to the plague OF brown
tail and gypsy moths which IS sweeplng
over the country from the New England
states. where 10000 has already been
spent in vain attempts 70 curb its devas-
tation OF the crops and woods. With the
insect-eating birds II is also planned 70
shield the snowy owl. which Is known
20 consume the hordes OF meadow mice
whose depredatlons have cost the orch
ardisJs or the country millions OF dollars.
50 battle for the proper protection
OF the insect-eating birds win have it's
effect upon the whole country" said Will
lam butcher, president Of the National
Association Of Audubon Societies. at its
headquarters. 1f1 Broadway. to-day
More than 81 600 .0o0 900 has been proven
by the government 20 have been lost 70
the farmers OF this land last year through
the depredations OF insect pests. We
want to determine II this vast loss 10 the
nation is not to be considered. rather than
the selfish interests of the few dealers
in the plumage Of the very birds that
destroy these insects II IS high time FOR
the farmers, orchardists, ranchmen. and
planters of this country TO assert them
selves IN this matter. as the agriculturists
are doing IN this State. We feel that we
can count upon the support OF every
patriotic American 10 help Us save the
nations valuable bird resources"