The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-04-21
OUR SBOREBIRDS ARE
RAPIDLY VANISHING
While Formerly Numerous Species
swarmed Along the Atlantic Coast
and I'm the Prairie Region. Many OF
Them Have Been so Reduced That
determination Seems Imminent.
by W. l. McATEE.

The term shorebird is applied TO a
group Of long-legged, slendeT-biled,
and usually plainly coloreG birds.
which frequent the shores Of all
bodies Of water, large and small. but
many Of which are equally at home on
plains and prairies. More than 90
species Of them are found in North
America.
Shorebirds have been hunted until
only a remnant Of their once vast
numbers is left. Their limited powers
Of reproduction, coupled with the nat
ural vicissitudes of the breeding per
iod. make their increase slow, and
peculiarly expose them to danger or
determination.
In the way Of protection a begin
ming has been made, n a continuous
close season until 1915 has been es-
tablished for the following birds: the
killdeeT, in Massachusetts and LOUIS
lana; the upland plover, in Massachu-
sets and Nermnot; and the piping
ployer, in Massachusetts But, con-
sidering the needs and value OF these
birds, this modicum Of protection Is
small indeed.
The above named species are not
the only ones that should be exempt
from persecution, for all the shore
birds Of the United States are in need
of better protection. They should be
protected. first, to "a them from the
danger of determination, and, second,
because of their economic import
nee. SO great, indeed, IS thelr eco
nomic value, that their retention on
the game list and their destruction by
sportsInen is a serious loss to agri-
culture. Not only agriculture, but
the health of the people in many
States is benefited by these shore
birds. Nine species, of which perform
an important service to mankind by
their inroads upon mosquitoes, some
Of which play SO conspicuous a part
in the dissemination of diseases. Cat
tie and other live stock also are seri-
ously molested by mosquitoes as we'll
as by another set OF pests, the horse
flies. Adults and larvae Of these flies
have been found in the stomachs of
four species of shorebirds, two OF
which, the killdeer and upland ployer.
still further befriend cattle by de-
NOuring the North American fever
tick.
Sh~orebirds are also very fond OF
grasshopperS and % species of the
plains have been known to consume
great numbers of Rocky Mountain
locuSts.
Shorebirds are fond of other insec1
pests Of forage and grain crops, in.
Guiding the army worm n cut worm
Two caterpillar enemies Of cotton, tn
cotton worm and the cotton cutworn
are aten by the upland plover an(
killdeer. The latter also feeds on tn
tobacco n tomato worm.
The boll-weevil, clOver-leaf Weeyil
the clover-root curculio and man,
other weevils which attack cotton
grapes n sugar beetS, are eagerl,
sought after by the shorebirds.
Crayfishes. which are u pest in ric'
and corn fields in the South and which
injure leaves, are favorite food o
several species Of shorebirds, notabl,
the jack Snipe, robin Snipe, san
piper, upland plover and %killdeer.
The record of the shore
birds, deserves nothing but praise
These birds injure no crop but on tn
contrary feed upon many of the wors
enemies of agriculture. 1t is wort
recalling that their diet includes sue:
destructive pests as the Rocky Noun
tain locust and other injurious grass
hoppers, the army worn cut worm.
cabbage and cotton worms, boil
weevil clover-leaf weevil, white grub:
and such foes AS the fever tick, hors
flies and mosquitoes. Their Narfar
on crayishes must not be overlooked
nor must we forget the more pei
sOnal debt Of gratitude we owe thel
for preying upon mosquitoes. Tn
ShorebirdS are the most importar
bird enemies Of these pests know
TO US.