The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-01-21
A STRONG APPEAL
TO SAVE ROBIN.

The ST. Petersburg Independent
has recently issued a challenge to
the Florida Audubon society in re-
gard 10 the proposed law for the
protection OF the robin, and calls at
tention 10 the complaint that the
robin is destructive to the strawber-
~ crop in certain sections of Brad
ford and Polk counties.
In reply. the Audubon society says
that it is not disputed that the robin
eats and destroys cultivated fruits to
a certain extent. In the statement
which the society published on Nov
l6 it was quoted from Farmers bull
lctin No. "a, issued by the L. S. de-
partment of agriculture, that the diet
az the robin averages 81 per Ger cen:
harmful insects, per cent cultiyat
cd fruits, and the balance wild fruits.
These statistics were obtained by eX-
amining the stomach contents Of
many robins. killed at different sea-
sons and in widely different locali-
ties. Il is also readily conceded by
the Audubon society that under Ger
tain conditions this general average
may vary. For example, in certain
restricted districts and at certain
limited periods Of time the robin 6
diet may exceed this average of !
Fer cent of cultivated fruits.
1t does not seem to be generally
understood, however, that
a1Gl OF the general statutes of the
State OF Florida, provides that moth
ing in said sections shall prevent any
citizen Of the State Of Florida from
destroying birds which are found in
Jrring grapes, fruits, garden or farm
products on his premises: the pro-
posed robin law will, of course, be in
harmony with this section, SO thai
no one will lie forbidden to kill thes,.
birds whenever he finds them injur-
ing his crops.
In discussing this situation a rep
lesentativc of the Florida Audubon
society made the following state
l!ent.
when we consider that the Win
ter robins Of Florida represent a
large proportion Of the robin pOpu-
Tie prescn, legislation in this State
IS largely responsible for the fac.
that 30 per cent Of the American
robins have been eXterminated in
spite OF the fact thai they have beer,
given absolute protection in thirty
Two States; and when we consider
that the robin is loved and cherished
Ey an entire nation, not only as y
y,
az a household pet; il does not seem
providcnt or just 10 allow these birds
to be sacrificed to their few enemies
and to be killed all over the State
because Of the harm that some of
them do in certain restricted por.
tons Of the State.
To sum the matter up, this is the
proposition which now cOnfronts MS
We have Il bird which does on an
average 81 per cent good and I per
cent harm and makes 100 per cent
music while he is doing it. Til,
! slaughter of this bird as game While
ii is spending the winter in the
] South is threatening the eXtermin-
! elton of the few of it's kind that still
remain. Shall We sacrifice the b
per cent in order to save the | pei
cent'
1t has already been stated, accord
! ing To the provisions OF the law, the
strawberry grower has a right to kill
robins which are iniuring his crops
and this introduces another phase of
the question. 1t is a well-known
fact that most birds are inclined to
abandon those places where they are
shot, and seek safety in places wher
they are assured protection. If the
! robin finds that he is safe in all
! parts OF the State except in the
strawberry sections. perhaps he will
: not he so inclined to invade those
places whore he is not welcome"