New Ulm review., 1913-04-09
OF Interest To Our Out of I own Readers

ts"''y icouAItu III u saving Oh only
one per cent Of the crops, the sum
saved to farmers by these birds In
1910 was $89,26O,0OO.
I! The bird experts call attention to
the current idea in regard to hawks
and owls. pointing out that while
these birds are generally classed as
thieves and robbers, as a matter Of
fact a large majority OF them are
the farmers friends and spend the
greater part of their long lives in the
pursuit of injurious insects and 70.
dents. As many as 100 grasshoppers
have been found in the stomach Of q
iSwainson's hawk, representing a sin.
tgle meal; and, in the retreat of q
pair of barn owls have been found
more than 5000 skulls, 81 per cent
OF which were mammals. the bulk
consisting Of field mice. house mice
and common rats. Nearly half a
bushel of the remains OF pocket
gOphers-animals which are very de.
structiye in certain parts of the Unit
ed States-was found near nest of
] this species. The notable increase
OF .noxious rodents during the last
few years in certain parts of the
United States, is due to the dimin-
lshed number of the birds of prey,
which formerly destroyed them A
few hawks are injurious, it is point
led out, and the bulk of the depreda-
lions ON birds and chickens charge
able against hawks is committed by
three species-the Cooper's hawk,
the sharp-shinned hawk, and the
gOshawk.
AT the present time many kinds of
useful birds need protection as never
before. The encroachments of civili-
zation on timbered tracts and the
methods of modern intensive farm
In: by destroying or restricting breed
Ing grounds of birds tend to dimin.
ish their ranks. The number of in
sect pests, on the other hand, is all
the time increasing through importa.
tions from abroad and by migration
from adjoining territories. In the
view of the department scientists IT
is most important that every effort
should be made to increase the num-
Der OF our useful birds by protecting
them from their enemies, by provid-
ing nesting facilities, and by fur
nishing them food in times of stress,
respectfully in the winter. Important
| in this connection is the planting
near the house and even in out-of-
the-way places on, the farm of vari-
! Gus berry-bearing shrubs, many of
which are ornamental, which will
supply the food when the snow is on
the ground. Other species can be
made winter residents of many
farms, it is asserted, by putting out
supply of suet, and by planting
hedges and thickets. constant sup
ply Of water near the farm house
will materially aid in attracting birds
to that neighborhood.
| The bluebird, familiar on every
farm. and hailed everywhere as the
harbinger of spring. has fairly good
record. his diet consisting of 6S per
cent of insects and 80 per cent of
vegetable matter. Despite the fact
that the robin devours much fruit,
the department is of the opinion
that his usefulness Outweighs the
harm he does There are few more
useful birds than the chickadees.
whose food consists of moths and
caterpillars. beetles. ants. wasps,
bugs, flies, grasshoppers and spiders,
together with some seeds. Then there
is the brown creeper, the house
wren, the brown thrasher and the
purple martin, all of which are cred
tied with good records and can safe
ly be put in the farmers friend
class. So too with the white.breast-
ed nuthatch, often mistaken by the
careless observer for a small wood
pecker, myrtle warbler, barn swallow
and the rose-breasted grosbeak. This
last named bird, beautiful song
ster, noted for its clear, melodious
notes, might be convicted of petty
larceny because of his fondness for
green peas and some kinds of fruit,
but this mischief is much more than
balanced by his destruction Of in
sect pests. The bird is so fond of
the Colorado potato beetle that he
is some times called the "potato-bug
bird" and no less than tenth Of
the total food OF the rOsebreasts en-
amined consisted of potato beetles.
II vigorously attacks cucumber bee
ties and many of the scale insects. !
The song sparrow. another ia
miliar harbinger of spring, building !!
its nest in hedges or in garden
shrubbery, is one of our most do
mestic species. About threefOurths !
OF the song sparrow's diet consists
OF the seeds of noXious weeds and
of insects. The flicker,
by the yellow under
surface of the wing, yellow tail
shafts and white rump. is considered
a useful bird. His diet consists
chiefly of ants. The yellow-bellied
unlike other woodpeckers,
is very destructive to young trees.
Defects to timber due to the depre-
dations of these birds cause an an
nual loss to the lumber industry es-
timated at $1,25O,000. The screech
owl and the barn owl are both com.
mended and recommended for pro.
lection. The former should be en-
to stay near barns and out
houses, since it will keep in check