Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-20
BIRDS MANS GREATEST FRIEND.

BIRDS MANS GREATEST FRIEND.
That tie common moeking bird Dixie's
little browns cousin to the classic R1lbul
sung In Persia's charmed rose gardens
long ago by Hafz may be destined TO
| play great and important part III the
development OF the South's agricultural re-
sources through coming years, Is the start
| ling aid unexpected inference to be drawn
| from some OF the discoveries made by Prof.
| H. P. Attwater. indlstriai agent of the Sun
| set-Central lines with headquarters at
| Houston.
1.-The hooking bird" said Professor Att
water yesterday lis one OF the few of
the useful birds native to our Southland
that has not been driven out by the
saracen-like horsea of English sparrows
las is well-known, the English sparrow.
in yanquishing the tribes of native birds
that once filled the woods and fields of the
South. and in establishing itself a perrna-
nent habitat here, has become one VI the
most harmful of common nuisances. The
sparrow Is not a useful bird, though it does
aestroy numberless INSECTS. because the
herm 1t does far exceeds the good 1t has
driven out the martin, one Of our best In
sect eatehers of the past and many ether
familiar species Of the feathered tribes have
been extermnaned Or driven out by 1t.
There are several useful birds. how
ever. that not afraid of the sparrow and
can hold their own against that little
fighter. The graekls. one of the species or
native Texas blackbirds. is another There
is a large number Of distinct species OF
birds that go under the name OF blackbtrds,
and not all of these are useful birds. This
distinction must be clearly borne in the
mind. The gracKle is decidedly useful and.
in large enough numbers may be depended
upon 10 do great deal of good Ia keeping
down the number Of sparrows. The mock
ing bird. while rather egrarions as distin.
suished from the fockine species, is also
fearless and aggressive enemy 10 the spar
row, as well an effeient insect extcrmi-
nator. ~
when we consider that without birds the
| whole world would sstarve the matter of
bird reservation assumes = sfass different
| aspect from the sentimental one commonly
exploited in deseriers against the slaughter
| OF game birds"
| Professor Attwater is one OF the best
known authorities on practical ornitholoyy
in this part OF the country. He has done
valuable original research work In. dar
termining bird life problems and has mads
a particular study of the life Of Texas ma.
tive birds with special reference to their
food habits, During the last few years
great progress has been made in the same
line by the experts In the United States de-
partiaent of agriculture and by Others. ~
The results OF their Investigations"
said Professor Attwater. show the promi-
| nent position that birds occupy in the great
plan of natures economy and the very I'm
portant relations they bear to agriculture
| and horticulture
Among all our wasted and natural re-
| sources the useful birds occupy an upper
most position and are undoubtedly one of
the most valuable products. Bird pressr-
walton is just as necessary rs forest. con-
| seryation There is evidence TO show that
birds perform particularly valuable service
| in connection with forest planting and pre-
| servaton.
"All kinds of attention has been given
to the protection of game BIRDS he said.
and the agitation against their willful
| slaughter is kept up constantly. but prac-
tically no attention is given to the foster
ing and encouragement as well as protection
| of the useful birds. The game laws at pres
| ent would be beneficial il more generally
| enforced.
Such rapid and unprecedented settling
| up of farm lands in South Texas has been
| going on in the past few years that the
good effects of the game laws have been
largely neutralzcd by the increase In the
population of bird slayers. The develop
ment of greater areas of farm lands also
| indicates the necessity OF more insect de-
stroyers. A good example OF the fact that
| we are now suffering the loss of millions of
| dollars through paucity of these feathered
co-lahorers Is seen In the boil wesvil pest,
Through the examination of craws of nu-
rnerous birds / have proven that the boil
weevil could Be reduced to nominal evil
| through the right kind OF birds. and don't
think any other efhcient solution of the
| problem now offers itself,