Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-04-21

and that, now falling, now rising, follow
ing the movements OF their prey. The list
OF species is not lengthy six only in the
states east OF the Mississippi and but one
more west Of that river--but not one OF
the number could be spared without loss
to all classes OF our people.
The black bird and the oriole are great
insect destroyers, and the good they do
for the farmers outweighs any damage
they may do to grain. The bobolink,
though in summer deserved favo-
rite at the North and there chiefly in
sectivorous, in autumn is responsible for
damages to the southern rice patches
that annually aggregate many thousands
of dollars. The bobolink is thus almost
in class by itself, earning deserved
protection in summer at the North by
reason OF its beautiful song and its insect
eating habits, while mourning the Sc
| verest penalties at the South in the fall
for serious depredations ON the rice crop.
Its plumage and its song may be called
the most beautiful among all our birds,
and it is sad to think that it is fast
disappearing from our Maine fields.
/ The blue jay is another OF our insect
devouring bicds that may be truly ca lied
the farmers friend. Were judgment to
be pronounced merely as between the
good it does by destroying insects and the
harm it infiiets by eating corn and fruit,
the verdict would be in favor OF the bird,
A fact, however. recently brought to light,
seems to indicate that the blue jay is
essaying new role.
| As is well known, the brown-tail moth
/ was introduced into this country q few
years ago, and in the New England states
has already inflicted serious injury. 1t
will be fortunate for the country at large
II the ravages Of the insect can be linited
/ to the states already infested. Contrary
to the ha bits of our native moths, the eggs
OF this foreign intruder hatch in the fall,
and the young safely winter in their nests
in the trees, to issue in the spring and
begin thir devastations on the opening
foliage.
Recently it has been learned that hun
i dreds and thousands of these nests are
torn open in winter and the young eaten,
and the blue jay has actually been seen
doing this. The blue jay will earn the
title OF benefactor indeed should he be
able to contribute materially toward re-
duction OF this pest, which not only
threatened destruction alike to village
shade trees and country forest, but seri-
ously afiicts humanity at large.
ONE RIRD ouTcAsr.
The one bird among all that are known
to Maine that is nuisance and q menace
is the English sparrow. Unlike our native
species this bird has bad habi far out
weighing any possible good that it does,
even il the most liberal estimate he made
OF the comparatively small number of in
sects that it destroys or the weed seeds it
eats. 1t is conspicuous mem Der of the
seed-eating group, as its structure abun-
dainty proves, and this well-known fact
should have prevented its introduction
into the United States to perform the
service OF an insect eater.
By preference the bird is a scavenger OF
the city streets. Outside the city the birds
fondness for seeds does not stop with
weed seed. The smaller grains are liable
to attack at all stages Of growth, from
age to the grain crop of the country in
flicted by this pest at the present time
amounts to many thousands OF dollars an
nually.
There is yet another field for the exer-
ercise OF this pests pernicious activity.
Its aggressive and meddlesome disposition
and its habit of acting in concert enables
it to overpo~ er and drive away many of
our native birds, which before its advent
they were welcome.
The house wren, the bluebiri, the
phoebe, and certain swallows are the chief
sufferers from the aggressive warfare
waged ov the sparrow. Even that excel
lent ngnter, the purple martin, Is u..a BILE
to long resist the persistent attacks of. a
united colony of sparrows, since, wnea
una Die to overcome the martin in open
warfare, the sparrows enter the nests dur
ing the absence of the owners, kill the
helpless young and pitch out the eggs.
The result is that not only are the above
named species and other small birds
driven away from the localities they used
to inhabit, but their numbers have stead
lily diminished and must continue to do so
because of their inability to find other
suitable breeding places.
Thus the sparrow has usurped the places
about our homes by right belonging to our
own birds, and its increase has been at the
expense OF native American species, with
the result that number of highly impor-
tant useful species have been replaced over
large areas by single destructive one.
Not only should all aid and comfort be
withheld from this foreign invader, but
concerted effort should be made to reduce
its numbers and to extermiuate it where
ever and whenever possible.
With the one exception OF tine English
sparrow everyone of our birds should
be protected and encouraged. They are
positive asset to our State.