Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-07-09
New Light Shed On Bird Activities.


New light is shed on the activities OF
birds as conseryers Of the public health
in a communication to the National Geo
graphic Society, at Washington, D.. c.,
from HenryW. Henshaw, Chief ofthe Bio
logical Survey, who for considerable per-
iod has been studying the foods OF birds
by examining the stomachs OF specimens
killed for scientific purposes.
"The value of birds to the farmer is
plain enough, but we do not usually think
Of birds as having any direct relation TO
the public health" writes Mr.. Henshaw.
ITO prove that they do, however, it is
only necessary to state that 500 mosqui-
toes have been found in the stomach OF a
single night hawk, that in a killdeer's
stomach hundreds OF the larvae OF the
salt-marsh mosquito have been found,
and that many shore birds greedily de-
YOUR mosquito larvae. AS mosquitoes
are known 10 carry the germs OF such
serious diseases as typhoid, malaria, and
dengue fever, il is evident that by de-
stroying such germs the birds are con-
ferring distinct benefit on man. 1t may
be added that not frequently ticks are
eaten by birds, and that the tick which is
responsible for the spread OF Texas tever
among CATTLE has been frequently found
in the stomach Of bobwhite.
ain considering the many kinds OF
birds in The United States from the prac-
tical side, they may not inaptly be called
police force of the air, the chief duty OF
which is to restrain within bounds the
hordes OF insects that if unchecked would
devom every green thing, To accom-
plish this task successfully, the members
OF the force must be variously equipped.
As the bulk OF insects spend more or less
time on the ground, we find more birds
are fitted for terrestrial service than for
any other. Our largest bird family, the
sparrows, is chiefly terrestrial. II is ably
aided in its search for insects by the
thrushes, WrenS, certain OF the Warblers
and many other birds. SO many insects
buuow into trees that highly specialized
class OF birdS-the woodpeckerS-have
been developed 10 dig them out. The
bills, tongues, feet and even tails have
been cunningly adapted to this end.
The bark of trees also forms fayorite
shelter for numerous insects, and behold
the wrenS, nuthatches, wafblerS, creep
ers, with sharpeSt of eyes and slenderest
of bills. The air is full Of flying insects,
and to take care OF these there are the
swallows, swifts and night-hawks, whose
wings and bodies are so shaped as TO en-
dow them with the speed and agility nee
essary to follow all the turns and wind
ngs of their nimble insect prey. The
whipporwillS attend TO the night-flying
insects when most birds are asleep, while
the hawks by day and the owls by night
supplement the work OF other birds and
have special function OF their own, the
destruction OF noxiouS rodents.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
acreage under cultivation in the United
States is larger than ever before, and that
the crops are greater, the cost OF foodStuffs
continually mounts upward. Meanwhile
the destruction OF farm and orchard crops
by insects and by rodents amounts TO
many millions each year. If any part OF
this loss can be prevented il will be so
much clear gain. Since birds perform
such invaluable service, every effort
should be made TO protect them. This
can be done by furnishing nesting boxes
for certain species 10 nest in, as swallows,
martins, wrens, woodpeckers, great
crested fly catcherS and others; by
planting berry-bearing shrubs about the
farm and orchard as food for the birds in
winter, and by the establishment OF bird
sanctuaries where birds may be reason
ably safe from their natural enemies and
be permitted to live and breed in abSo-
lutte security as far as man is concerned.
Last but not least important may be
mentioned the element OF safety from
CATS Friendly overtures TO birds from
householders who regard tabby as a
necessary member OF the family are not
likely to be successful, or if so the ex-
pertinent is apt 10 end in the death OF the
confding birds. Birds and cats do not
thrive in the same neighborhood.