Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-09-03
Dor, Its Value and Its Perils, the first
of series of short sermons on The
Religious Side of Current Topics.
BIRDS NECESSARY
TO PROSPERITY
Some Work for the State OrnithoIo-
sist-A True Story of Downy
Woodpecker.

Estate Ornithologist's Letter for Sep
tember)
To increase the number of our USE
ful insectivorous birds is one of the
crying needs in Connecticut at the
present time.
Probably never before in our history
has there been such a prevalence of
insect pests and blights upon vegeta
tion as this season. The apple crop
is riddled in many sections: the fine
elms which shade our streets are rap
idly dying; the valuable chestnut tree
is on the road to extinction; the
gypsy and the brown-tailed moths are
spreading into the state. leaving i'll
their trail the desolation as of winter;
and there are innuInerable other
pests.
Some of these cannot be directly
affected by the birds. but many of
them can be. We can never spray the
entire vegetable Kingdom, but the
birls can CLEAN insects from every
tree and plant that exists. If we will
only provide the conditions under
which they can increase again to nor
NAL abundance. That birds are use
full and essential to the success OF
agriculture is recognized by all sell
entsts and by every civilized govern
ment. and is a fact beyond contro-
versy. The annual loss to agriculture
in the United States through insect
eight hundred million dollars. 1t is
recognized that if birds were in nor
nal abundance a large part of this
loss could be prevented.
In view of these facts and condi-
tons, by the act of our last legisla-
ture the off1ce of state ornithologist
was established. Among the most i'm
portant of the functions of the state
ornithologist will be to know occur
ately the facts about the various birds
of the state in relation to human well
fare. to ascertain successful methods
for the increase of useful birds, and to
educate public sentiment in the state
to interest and cooperation through
the press and by illustrated lectures
and other addresses.
One day last winter, in one of our
larger Connecticut towns a boy with
an air-rif1e and some companions en-
Tered the private yard of Ia lady and
shot a little black and white spotted
bird, known as the downy woodpecker.
which was working industriously on
an infected elm. hunting for eggs or
larvae of the insect pests. 1t fell to
the ground, wounded and dying. The
misguided youth, without troubling
himself further about the suffering
bird. (fOr all he wanted was the fun"
of shooting iD with a gratuitous In
suit for the lady on whose premises
he was trespassing, marched off to
hunt up some more game"
The lady tenderly took the bird into
the house and tried to revive it, but
the next morning it was dead. The
episode was brought to the attten-
ton of the superintendent of schools
as a clear case for prosecution. Sum
moning the boy to his office, he drew
out confession of guilt. Then he
told the boy how hard the city author
tiles were trying to save the fine elm
trees. the pride of the city, and how,
despite all The money spent in spray
ing the trees, the insects were surely
killing them. These little woodpeck-
ers, nuthatches. creepers. chickadees,
and others, are the best means of saw
ing these trees, and alas! they are all
too scarce. Then he told the boy that
these birds are our police force to pa
troll the trees. and that he had shot an
officer of the law engaged in the dis
charge of his duty. He went on to