The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-04-09

! the subject of our attitude toward
this class of birds Is a timely one. In
this matter we must meet extremes
of opinion. On some game preserves
they try to kill every raptorial bird.
On the other side there are people OPP
posed to game preserves because of this
attitude toward an interesting class
of birds. The only correct. judgment
is from the standpoint Of knowledge
J and consequent discrimination. Most
sionally, destroy fowl or chicken, or
game or insectivorous bird. Some
kinds do this habitually; others pre-
| fer a different diet and commit dep
relation more under force Of circum-
stances. While it would not be de-
sirable to have birds of prey really
abundant, on the whole they have a
useful function to forform. in the
keeping down of noxious verm1n. and
it would be a calamity to have them
entirely exterminated.
Take, for instance, the great horned
owl, classed as one of the most de-
structive species. 1t certainly kills
game birds and poultry to some ex-
tent. But have often examined their
nests where they bring their prey. In
the great majority of cases 1 have
found there rabbits, skunks, wood
chucks, squirrels. rats. snakes. but on
Nv occasionally birds. In short, they
feed mainly on vermin which would
have destroyed much more game and
poultry than the owls. But II there
were too many owls there would not
be vermin enough to go round. and
of course they would invade the poul-
try yard In fact one pair Of these
owls in a large wooded tract is pref.
ty good thing to have. Of course If
they become troublesome, as individ-
ua's will sometimes do, they can be
shot. Yet they are magnificent great
creatures and I love to hear them
hooting in the twilight in the rugged
hill country and the big timber. Much
the same is true of the barred owl,
slightly smaller species without the
ear-tufts.
Omitting mention of few rare
hawks that do not figure much eco
nomically, we have only two kinds
that are OF serious menace. Tnese
are the Cooper's and the. sharp-skin-
ned hawks, of medium and small size
respectively with short wings and
long tail, which flap their wings rap
idly. Their principal diet is of birds
and poultry. and it is proper to shoot
them at sight. There is no danger
that they will, be exterminated!
The other hawks and owls, like
most people. are neither notable
saints nor very great sinners. Some
of them like the SOC allied hen-hawkS
the red-tailed and ed-shouldered
hawks-sometimes bother the farmer
or the game birds, though usually
combining their attention mostly to
vermin and insects, being rather
heavy, sluggish birds, taking what
comes easy. When individuals learn
the way of the poultry yard or game
farm and become troublesome, they
can be suppressed.
Showing how individual ''good"
birds will fall from grace, last winter
I knew of screech owl killing
Hungarian partridge through the
wire of a pen. 1 have, even heard of
one killing a large hen. 1t was win
ter and probably these were desper-
ate from hunger. Ordinarily they
are splendid mousers and ratters, bet
ter that most cats, and l should not
dream of shooting them because of
rare iapses from human standards of
virtue. The marsh hawk that quart