Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-22
BIRDS AND HEALTH.
Worth to Farmer Long Known But
This is New Feature.

| worth TO FARMER Long hnOWn nut
This is New Feature.
New light is shed on the activities of
birds as conservers OF the public health in
communication to the National Geo.
graphic society at Washington, d. G.,
from Henry W. Henshaw, chief OF the
biographical survey. The survey, for q
considerable period, has been studying
the foods of birds by examining the stom-
achs of specimens killed for scientific pur-
poses.
ssThe 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 proves that they do, however, it is
only necessary to state that 500 mosquitoes
| night hawk; that in q killdeer's stomach,
hundreds of the larvae OF the salt marsh
mosquito have been found, and that many
shore birds greedily devour mosquito
larvae. As mosquitoes are known to carry
the germs OF such serious diseases as
typhoid, malaria and dengue fever, 1t Is
evident that by destroying such germs the
birds are comforting distinct benefit on
| man. 1t may be added that not infre-
quently ticks are eaten by birds, and that
the tick which is responsible for the
spread OF Texas fever among cattle has
been frequently found in the stomach OF a
bobwhite.
sin considering the many kinds of
birds in the United States from the
practical side, they may not inaptly be
called a police force OF the air, the chief
duty of which is to restrain within
bounds the hordes Of insects that, II I'M
checked, would devour every green thing.
To accomplish this task successfully, the
members of the force must be yariously
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.
1t is ably aided in its search for insects by
the thrushes, wrens, certain OF the warb-
lers and many other birds.
$50 many insects burrow into trees that
ahlghly-specislized class of birds-the
woodpeckers-have been developed to dig
them out. The bills, tongues, feet and
even tails have been cunningly adapted to
this end. The bark of trees also forms a
favorite shelter for numerous insects, and
behold the wrens, nuthatches, warbiers,
creepers, with sharpest of eyes and slen-
derest of bills. The air is full OF flying
insects, and to take care of these there are
the swallows, swifts and nighthawks
whose wings and bodies are so shaped as
to endow them with the speed and agility
necessary to follow all the turns and
windings OF their nimble insect prey. The
W hip poor attend 10 the night-hying
insects when most birds are asleep, while
the hawks by day and the owls by night
supple nent the work of the other birds
and have a 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 lcrops are greater, the cost OF food
stuffs continually mounts upward. Mean
while the destruction Of farm and orchard
crops by insects and by rodents amounts
to many millions each year. II any part
of this loss can be prevented it will be SO
much clear gain.
Since birds perform such invaluable SER
vice, every effort should be made to pro-
tect them. This can be done by furnish
ing nesting boxes for certain species to
nest in, as swallows, martins, wrens,
woodpeckers, great-crested by-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 reasonably safe from their
natural enemies and be permitted to live
and breed in absolute 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
necessary member of the family are not
likely to be successful, or if SO the expert
ment is apt to end in the death of the con-
fiding birds. Birds and cats do not thrive
in the same neighborhood."