The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-14
KILLING The BIRDS
A NATIONAL PERIL
Natures Equilibrium Broken
Each September.
REED BIRD VERY VALUABLE
Each Autumn's Slaughter of Feath-
cred Tribe Seems 20 Increase Raw
ages of Insects-Law I'm Time VIII
Put Ban Upon Wrong Notions Of
the Sport-NaturaIiSt's Statement.

French naturalist has made the state
ment that If the world were to become
birdless men could not inhabit it in nine
years time.
This statement. with all it implies.
ought TO be read by every man and boy
on August 81 from the palisades Of the
Hudson to the marshes Of Savannah, just
before they clean their guns for the annual
slaughter of reed birds. It seems a sweep
ing statement, but reflection will serve 10
any reasonable man Of its truth.
Without the birds, insects would multi
ply so rapidly. Notwithstanding all the
sprays and poisons suggested by the De-
partment of Agriculture 10 annihilate
them. that they would destroy the
orchards, forests. and crops. as they
now often threaten 20 do. II is putting
it none too strong to say that in a decade
North America would be a desert without
the birds
killing Birds "A Peril.
Realizing the truth OF this peril to vege-
tation. the useless and brutal slaughter
OF the reed birds each September along
the Atlantic coast takes on the pro-
portions OF a national peril. II IS a
slaughter which ought 20 have been
stopped years ago out Of common senti-
ments OF humanity to the helpless feath-
cred songsters which ill the northern
land with music during the nesting sea-
son.
The reed bird OF the North is the bobo-
link. and IN spring the male puts on a
white cap and a streak Of white upon his
hack. and is ore Of the happiest Of
fathers and husbands as he helps his
brown mate build the nest and rear the
years brood.
After the summer mOulting his feathers
turn 70 the russell brown OF the female.
and. with others OF his tribe from far
away New England and Canadian mead
ows. he comes southwark. feeding and
fattening upon the seeds Of grasses and
reeds 81 the marshes. IL is Yet a long
time 70 winter and the migration is slow.
Moreover. the reed bird becomes fat and
slow OF movement on the way South. and
when the game laws release the hunter
among the harmless broods on the frst
day Of September they fall by the million
every year in the Southern swamps and
other Birds Meet Same Fate.
With the reed bird flies several kinds
OF sparrows and other birds which eat
insects in summer and seeds in winter
All fan alike before the shotgun OF the
Southern hunter. and each spring It is
only the remnant Of the last years flock
that returns 20 the Northern nesting
grounds. Year by year the birds. harried
and driven away from their natural feed
ing grounds. become fewer and fewer. and
the myriads o. insects that infest the
woods and blooming fields increase. Ma
ture. II the birds were left alone. would
strike an average between the feathered
tribes and the slug and moth, and the
latter would not and could not become
the menace they are through this land
AS matters stand. half the efforts Of
the farmer and the horticulturist are ex-
pended in fighting insects. At the best.
the products OF orchard and truck gar
dens are continually damaged by the on
rush OF the beetle and the worm. With
sufficient insect-eating birds to check the
growth OF the larvae these conditions
could not exist. but every September the
birds must run the gantlet Of shot from
to Louisiana during the
migrating season. which so thins their
ranks that there is grave danger Of the
extinction Of whole species of our insect
eating birds
Sport and the Gourmand.
The motive Of this annual slaughter
rests in morbid notions Of sport and the
demand for the little bodies
Of the birds served on toast in the hotels
and restaurants Let Il be admitted that
the reed bird IS juicy Wand fit to tickle
the palate Of the epicure. but alive and
quivering with life. engaged in the mis-
sion for which he was created he is worth
more as a devourer Of the enc
mics of the fruit and the grain.
II the slaughter of the birds were con-
fined to those which are really used for
food, the feathered tribes would not be
IN danger Of determination, but the Sep
.ember attack upon the birds is a merci-
less killing of the flying creatures by men
and boys flushed with the thirst OF the
hunt. Thousands OF the birds are killed
hat are never recovered; thousands more
are wounded and later die. all because
men, wrongly educated and nurturing stin
The instincts Of barbarian ancestors, must
go out into the marshes each year and
slay the birds that never did them harm.
but always good, through the brief span
of their lives
Practice Should Cease.
Men with civilized notions ought OF
heir own volltion to break their guns and
never kill another bird. It should not
De necessary for the stern arm Of the law
@ step In and force upon them humani-
toward the fowl of the air and
Of safety from the ravages
of the moth and caterpillar. but the in
'tinct TO kill is so strong in the breasts
IF large segment Of the race that It is
unlikely the shooting of the field birds
Will be stopped until in law the safety Of
he feathered fier is made as secure as
hat of the man.
Meets In Ute Pass.
The Rocky Mountain summer conference
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