The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-25
CENSUS OF OUR BIRDS.

offcials OF the biological survey in the depart.
ment Of agriculture expect soon to be able to an
nounee fairly accurate enumeration of the
birds In the united States
story from Washington says:
Returns from OF the hundreds of nature
lovers around the country who have enlisted as
volunteer onlunerasors have been coningSin re
f1ecting an enthusiastic interest In the count
When the census was decide dupon about ESQ
taTd enthusiasts in all sections of the country
who previously had rendered valuable service
were asked to supply the desired information
and in addition TO these, several hundred others
rnlarteerea- thar a4a------------
The counting has been going on since Tune
ana was TO have wound up by July l. but II
probably will be time before the last OF
inc returns are In and announcement is smade
~ the total bird population. The census will
not include the varieties known as game birds
but in all other respects it will be as thorough
ana az Well classified ia practicable. Previous
estimates by the bird experts are that there are
$50 main species of birds in the United States
and Canada, the varieties being more generously
distributed in tho Eastern States than In The
West and the least of ali in the prairfes
But this ~ only guess, The enumeraters In
the present count have been assigned typical
traets OF woodland. cultivated land and pasture.
and asked 10 count the birds on each Officials
OF each State will be asked to furnish the do
parinent OF agriculture with information show
ing the total number Of acres Of each kind of
land within the borders OF the States and the
number OF birds in each State then with be fairly
accurately computed
The plan adopted by many of the ohse rvers
is to zigzaE back and forth across the chosen
area at daylight counting the male birds of
each species. at that time day at this sea-
son, each is in full song and easily seen After
the migration period Is over and the birds are
settled in summer quarters II is safe TO saw
= hat each male represents breeding pair. One
or tho main objects of the census by the wev ts
10 determine how many pairs OF birds Of each
species breed within definite areas
Account taken in part OF Chevy Chase a
snourb Of Washington. showed thirty -four spe-
cies Of birds fl tract OF twenty-three acres
the total number Of breeding pairs benc
~ ahout seven TO The average II
Is stated is about one pair to acre. AS the
tract In question is thcsly populated the bird
experts or the government In this a reflta-
ton or tine theory that the presence Of many
people tends 70 decrease the number of birds
The question is what good purpose will 1t
serve anyone 10 know how many birds there are
IN the country, even II the enumerators could
get fairly accurate census. which Is doubtful
We believe the department could employ its
time TO better advantage by figuring out some
plan by which the country could be rid OF the
English sparrow pest. With these nuisances
annhilated the useful birds would prosper and
propagate their species. We shall have no great
number or variety Of birds as long as this rapa-
cious sparrow infests the land