The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-12-02

entists who had conducted thousands
of examinations of the crops of sus-
pected birds. 1t was shown that the
harm done by almost all species COM
pared to the good was inconsiderable
and would at most represent but q
very small toll which the bird might
Justly claim. This was true of all the
species of which he spoke except the
hawk of which species about one in
ten takes a fancy especially to poul-
try; the crow which does two parts
good for every part bad, and the Eng
fish sparrow which does two parts
harm for every one part OF good
The crow is far more often in the
meadow destroying meadow-mlce and
worms that infest the grass-roots,
than he is in the corn-held. Some
people say the crow uses profane Ian
guage and should be shot for his i'm
audience. However Mr.. Crow is not
intending his language to be interpret
ed by men-it is all for, or in some
cases perhaps at, other crows. And
the other crows understand him too
Did you ever see a crow discover a
hawk-his primeval enemy? Well, at
first he does not begin the conflict
alone, but perched on a tree near by
begins to call in quick short caws what
sounds exceedingly like, help! help
help! And soon help comes If there
are more crows in hearing distance ane
hen the fun begins-for the crows.
AS for the English sparrows it seems
every mans hand is against them
They eat few noxious weed seeds and
then only when they cannot feed of
more choice grain. They destroy com
uaratively few Objectionable insects
He is an outlaw, and in many states &
bounty is placed upon his head. He
builds his nests about houses and men.
rat, he may be said to be commensal
for wherever man builds his dwelling
there he flourishes best. He is an enc
ny of the other birds and drives then
away. He cannot sing and will not al
low other birds near your door tina
can. His noisy chitter, chitter is mo-
only monotonous but unmusical.
The mag-pie is said also to be des
tructive bird. AS to this l could no
say. This is the first residence I have
had in a country where there are mag
pies. only know the laws of the STATE
of Idaho protect all birds except thu
English sparrow, the magpies, and thu
king-bird, commonly known as the bee
martin.
There is another view of the bird tina
we fail often to consider. His pres
ence and song are conservatiOns o
beauty and pleasure. How drear!
would be the ramble in the wood if NJ
bird with bright plumage hoped from
one shady bower to another! How
funereal would seem the fields and for
ests if the modest songsters did not en-
liven them with their echoes! TIL
streams would be different If no grace
|
at the approach of an intruding stel
/ Beauty is value. Music is value.
so we should protect with zeal til
/ beauty and music maker.
, Protection, however, can best /
. taught in the home. If children al
taught that they can make friends
the birds and come to regard them s
there will be no inclination to destrc
t them. Mr.. Smith told in his lecture
c a man of his acquaintance who had q
Y old apple-orchard that had not bor1
| fruit for years. 1t was neglected Il
I one day he examined the bark of Il
a trees and found 1t infested with insec
h whose presence was inimical. He CO
ceived the idea of coaxing the birds
i make the old apple-orchard their hon
n Accordingly in the spring he frequeT
: ed the orchard, always wearing a wi
! brim straw hat and carrying with hi
6 beef rennet and bits of highly color
strings and yarn which he left hangi
4 trees. Unfailingly he carried al
: dainty food such as would appeal to I
. wee inhabitants whom he wished to
. tract. Soon the orchard was ringi
Q with the love-music from many b
. throat. And before the summer "
. over, 1t was asserted, when his bro
. brim hat was seen in the orchard |
. mediately the tiny dwellers would
. to him and without fear would perch
. his shoulder. They had come to KIN
. him as a friend. And that year
. friendship was highly repaid by the
. apple-orchard, ridded of It's pests, be
ing an abundant crop of apples. II
. is doubted that birds will come to KIN