The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1911-06-30

, horse flies. Adults and larvae OF
these flies have been found in the
stomachs OF the dowitcher, the pee
toral sandpiper. the hudsonian godwit
and the killdeer Two species OF
shorebirds, the killdeer and upland
plover, still further befriend cattle BY
devouring the North American fever
tick. Among other fly larvae con-
sumed are those Of the crane flies
| (leatherjackets).
| Another group OF insects Of which
the shorebirds are very fond Is grass
| hoppers. Severe local infestations OF
grasshoppers, frequently involving the
destruction OF many acres of corn. cot
ton and other crops. are by no means
exceptional Aughey found % species
of shorebirds feeding on Rocky Noun
tain locusts In Nebraska, some OF
them consuming large numbers. Even
under ordinary conditions grasshop-
pers are staple food OF many mem
bers OF the shorebird family.
Shorebirds are fond Of other insect
pests of forage and grain crops. In
Guiding the army worm, which Is
known to be eaten by the killdeer and
spotted sandpiper; also cutworms.
among whose enemies are the avocet.
woodcock. pectoral and Baird sand
pipers, upland plover and killdeer.
Two caterpillar enemies Of cotton, the
cotton worm and the cotton cutworm,
are eaten by the upland plover and
killdeer. The latter bird feeds also
on caterpillars OF the genus Phlege-
thontius, which includes the tobacco
and tomato worms.
The principal farm crops have many
destructive beetle enemies also. and
some Of these are eagerly eaten by
shorebirds. The boil weevil and clover.
leaf weevil are eaten by the upland
plover and killdeer, the rice weevil by
the killdeer. the cowpea weevil by
the upland plover, and the clover
root curculio by several species OF
shorebirds.
Bill bugs, which often do considera-
BILE damage to corn. seem to be favor
lite food OF some of the shorebirds.
They are eaten by the Wilson phala-
rope, avocet, black-necked stilt pee
toral sandplper. killdeer and upland
plover. They are an important ele-
ment Of the latter birds diet. and no
fewer than eight species of them have
been found in its food.
Wireworms and their adult forms.
click beetles. are devoured by the
northern phalarope. woodcock. jack
snipe, pectoral sandipper, killdeer and
upland plover The last three feed
also on the southern corn leafbeetle,
and the last two upon the grapevine
colapsis. other shorebirds that eat
leaf-beetles are the Wilson phalarope
and dowitcher.
Crayfishes, which are pest In rice
and corn fields In the south and which
injure levees, are favorlte food OF the
black-necked silt, and several other
shorebirds feed upon them. notably
the jacksnipe, robin snipe, spotted
sandpiper. upland plover and killdeer-
Thus 1t is evident that shorebirds
render important aid by devouring the
enemies of farm crops and~in other
ways, and their services are appreci-
ated by those who have observed the
birds in the feld. Thus. w. A. Clark
OF Corpus Christi. Tex, reports that
upland plovers are industrious In fol'
lowing the plow and in eating the
grubs that destroy garden stun. corn
and cotton crops. II. w. Tinkham OF
Fall River, Mass. says OF the spotted
sandpiper: Three pairs nested In
Young orchard behind my house and
adjacent to my garden. | did not see
them once go to the shore for 1000
(shore about ! 800 feet %way, but |
did see them many timer make faith
full search of my garden fSr cutworms,
spotted squash bugs. ard green dies
Cutworms and cabbage Forms were
their especial prey. A'fr the young
could fly, they still kept a work In my
garden. and showed NJ 7iclinatiou to
go to the shore until att''t August 10.
They and flock Of eF"ils just over
the wall helped me vo' aerfully."
To summarize: 81 rebirds have
been hunted until or. a remnant OF
their once vast numbers is left. Their
limited powers of reprot hction. coupled
with the natural vicssstudes of the
breeding period. mako their increase
slow. and peculiarly expose them to
danger of determination.
In the way of protection a begin
ming has been made. and a continuoun
close season until 1915 has been en-
tablished for the following birdss
The killdeer. In Massachusetts and
Louisiana; the upland plover. in Mar
sachusetts and Vermont; and the pi-
ping plover. in Massachusetts. But
considering the needs and value Of
these birds. this modicum of protec-
ton IL small indeed.