Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-15
SCARCITY OF ROBINS.
Effect of Cold and Backward Season
on Land and Sea Birds.

After the hard winter of 1s11-12 came
a cold and backward spring. a severe
winter with much snow and ice exposes
birds to great,hardships and If it is fol-
lowed by a late, cold stormy spring the
eggs sometimes lack fertility and in
many cases few young robins are
raised. During the winter of 1911 large
numbers of robins lind some bluebfrds
remained in the north, Notwithstanding
the severe weather of january and
February. Cold waves and snowssorms
extended far to the south and must
have destroyed many birds which WIN
ter in the northern, middle and south
ern states. These conditions did not
much. affect those species which do not
winter in the United states but mainly
pass on to Mexico, the Antilles and
South America The spring flight of
robins was late and they were moi SO
numerous as usual and bluebir6s were
rather uncommon in comparison with
last year. but when in May, the migra-
ton warblers came along they appeared
in goudly numbers. Some species
however, continued their flights later
than usual. Most of these warhlers fly
to Central and South America and thus
escape the rigors of winter in the
northern continent. The shore birds
which 20 far south in winter also come
back IN numbers.
The scarcity of bluebirds has been re-
ported as. far west as Michigan and
south to Pennsylvania. Over a wide
area quail did not winter well, and if
| Il
in numbers by severe weather in the
South we. may expect some reduction
in the numbers of woodcock which
winter in the same regions MANY
small birds are killed by the southern
people. Last winter many persons
took advantage Of the necessities of
the birds to kill great numbers of
robins, blackbirds and bluehirds The
city council of Pittsb0ro, \. C.. reseind-
ed an ordinance forbidding shooting
within the city limits, that the people
might shoot the birds that We're driven
by stress of weather to that town to
feed on Ferries and about 1000 robins
We're killed there in short time.
Quantities Of hlackhirdS and bobplinks
have beer killed in the Carolinas by
negroes and these birds are sold in
southern markets
Ut issa remarkable coincidence. now
that robins and tluebirds are reduced
in numbers, that farmers are complain
ing loudly 81 TIE inroads of cutworms
Of which robins and bluebirds eat
great Quantities. A scarcity of
cuckoos in some localities in eastern
Massachusetts is accompanied by a
great Increase in tent caterpiliars on
which euckoos iced. The ice. which
locked ponds and rivers in January
and February and extended over the
flats. bays and harbors and in some
cases out to sea cut off the food sup
ply of the wild ducks which now VIM
ter along our coasts in large numbers
since they are protected by law at
that season. Some of them were
starved and many We're facing death
by starvation when the ice embargo
was lifted by the coming of spring.
As spring opened reports came from
many parts of Massachusetts. as Well
as from the other New England states.
that unusually large numbers of wild
fowl We're returning to our shores and
inland waters. Even in Boston harbor,
where ferry boats ply to and fro, and
on TIE Charles river where trains are
constantly crossing the bridges. flocks
of wild ducks appeared. exhibiting a
confidence and tameness never before
observed in these localities. The num-
bers of these birds seen later on inland
waterways and ponds. as we'll as
along the coast. We're such, as to give
color to the general view that they
We're not seriously reduced in numbers