The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-09-28
A PLEA FOR
BIRD PROTECTION
(ey J. A. H~iaussnsy. Forest. Game and
Fish Warden.D

~ 'fN~Nsys foFCtAs SarNr and
Fish wsrden.)
FROM almost every county in the
state comes the cheering news thai A
great increase can be noticed in
numerous insectiverous birds. and his
Information naturally raises the aues-
ton as 20 the cause OF the Increase
MANY reasons might be assigned
which have some bearing on this sub
Ject. but the principal reason for tha
improved conditions Is q better under.
standing. BY the human race in zen.
erHl, OF the economical value 81 these
creatures 20 the various AGRICULTURAL
Interests OF this country
Too much credit annot be given IN
the National Audubon society or 10
the various state ORGANIZATIONS FOR
tho campaign Of education tina, they
have relentlessly urged for bird pro.
lection, and every citizen in your
state that feels an interest in The pro.
, lection and preservation OF our feath-
cred songsters should become a mem
her OF the West Virginia Audubon so.
ciety' with headquarters In the city OF
Parkersburg.
II may be thai the EXTINCTION O,
some species OF n birds is attrihltal
to long cold winters. deep SHOWS.
rainy seasons and beasts and birds Of
prey-in fact. IL is natural for man 10
blame the decrease in the number -
ooNu oAF DiTus duu animals 10 every
conceivable reason Xcept himself.
After n careful study OF this cues.
tion. giving u regard TO every ef.
fectual agency that end TO eXtin.
guish the wild life OF our fields and
forests. IL Is our ultimate conclusion
that humanity IL the main factor 10
the dimunition OF our birds and ami.
mals-or tn sum IL all up and name
the different forces that work against
bird life, in order of their importance,
We must admit that man TOPS the lad.
der by many rounds.
In this land OF the free and home
OF the brave" numbering many mil.
lions OF human souls. with almost
every man and boy demanding his
constitutional right TO kill when.
where and how he plesses every wild
creatures that wears hair or feathers.
no wonder that 81 Is necessary TO
pass stringent laws for the protec.
ton OF these defenseless creatures.
and TO form Audubon societies for the
purpose OF educating the boys and
girls 10 a better understanding OF
protecting birds.
This education should be carried
into every school In West Virginia. as
IL means more to the future prosperi-
~ OF our agricultural and horticul-
tural pursuits than any other sub
Ject.
Statistics show that the annual loss
20 the country through insect pests
amounts to. $500. O0O. 900, and to
bring home the Significance OF this
colossal sum-. 10 is said that there are
about COO colleges In the United
States whose buildings and endow-
ments have been centuries In accumu-
lation. and the value OF these col
lege and university buildings is only
s260.0OO,O 900 and the endowments
$4,000. 600. the combined amount
being Just a little more than one-halt
the amount destroyed each year by in
sects. II all these colleges and uni
versities were TO be destroyed. in
GLIDING the endowments for anne the
insect tax for one year would replace
all the damages and leave a surplus
OF $4,000 900.
The school children OF this country
number about 20. 900, 900 and the cost
OF their education has become the
heaviest tax that II levied upon the
resources OF our country. yet Il can be
truthfuily said that ~ costs more TO
feed our insects than IL costs 10 feed,
elothe and educate our 20,O00.000 OF
school children.
What can b. done 10 check this
great destruction 10 our natural re-
sources? The answer m from n
million people who have made these
matters a careful ~study-save and pro-
tect the birds.
The great army o. insects that In.
fest this country would. we're II not
for the check placed upon their in
crease by the wise provisions % ma
iure. within a short time destroy all
vegetation and this old green earth
would h0Tnmn a huEWan aud frftftnaa
desert.
The robb' ns. thrushes whipperwills.
blue lays. wood peckers. yellow ham
mers and many other kinds OF birds
we're intended by the all wise Creator
70 hold in check such insect posts as
the cut worm. caterpillar. potato bug.
grasshopper. hesian fly. tree borer and
the hundreds of insects that IN a sin
gle year would destroy practically all
the crops that We grow
The ciaFs - birds known a. seed ear
inE birds ars the sparrovs doves. ninchsq
and the IKE We 90 not fully appreciate
the great amount 81 noxfous weeds 10
stroyef by seed eatlnr biris IN Wee.
virginia Estimating the number 81
such birds that inhabit our state a.
% 0n0. n00 which b. a very conservative
estimate ard allo~inr one, ounce ~
would onsum IN elk months.
neH o. cocoon tons ~ food. or 5000 car
loads. allowius twenty. tons 20 the ar.
fuiiy ~consiUuctsd hi ~ will digest q
fuI a0rar % food rTcrr two nouns.
phich enables % 60 consume sarh tween
hours 80 least twice ifs ovr
Tho hirds n West virrinia are ~
more vaire fHnr nT fhe rafre sheen
hogs found within 0ur state. and frcq
fr1'sfdHnf who would rffI-
lesrir DESTROY ore ~ those little rrfa-
lures. which we're put here for a def
mite purpose Is no. nH'v interfering
with Tho Infinite afnm ~ creation.
ia fskinc from uarfr' action g Ergat
forfor fc- GOOD that ir beyond he
power 90 replace
DO IDOL HnO cause fnn blades ~ Grass
Co., grow Where ore formerly rrev IL
IerefHrfnr fo murtfrN BOW much more
IGNORED should DO hr who cen ears
from extinction anil ami iaf.Hn fha
birds fne wosf "n-surf.l and ueffui ~
creation
ff III vfry dIffruff fo r'a.e "a ro-ev
20 Hafinr Nn nirfe fHr urnn fhrm de-
rfrls AMI cont urHf raIefrrrr .ron
Tho earth without fNa birds vernfaffrr
would runr Do DESTROYED nf fnaaafa.
without vegetation frr aafrr rfrnIF -
'he rarfn would coon fr nr nn. 80
would hIfg fn resort fr .fr.Hrf ar rHr
srafrrarrf until Tho uaHE woe Ie.frsv-
"I nf fnr aff0ns anN III" H'n"f .I"H aH
.rimal Hrf rrErfahir hfc would perish
TIE earth.
fef frt v1rf go f1-th FROM every
Ur.ufIrr press ruf E.Nn.f .rHra .r 80
''rf ffHHfrf ur fHn fHHn ~ fr Hn|fn d.
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