Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-10-22
WELCOME THE THRUSHES

Washington, ID. C.-That thrushes
the group of birds in which are
Included robins and bluebirds-do a
great deal of good and very little
harm to agriculture, is the conclu-
sion reached by investigators of the
United States Department Of Agri-
culture who have carefully studied
the food habits of these birds. AL
together, there are within the limits
of the United States II species of
thrushes, five of which are common
ly known as robins and bluebrds.
The other six include the Townsend
solitaire, the wood, the veery, the
gray-cheek, the olive-back, and the
hermit thrushes.
The robins ard bluebirds nest
close to houses, and even the shyest
of the other species are content with
the seclusion of an acre or two of
woodland or swamp. For this rea-
son the thrushes are among the best
known and most carefully protected
CT native American birds, and at
times their numbers become so great
that it is feared they will do much
harm to crops and fruit. The recent
Investigations of the Department of
Agriculture, however, show that
there is very little ground for this
fear. On the other hand, they de-
stroy such a vast number of insects
each year that it is probable that
without them many crops would suf-
fer serious damage.
Of all the thrushes, the robin is
probably the best known. 1t has
been frequently accused of destroy
Ing fruits and berries, but it has now
been ascertained that this only oc-
ours in regions that are so thickly
settled that there is no wild fruit
upon which the robin may subsist.
In some years the bird is a great pest
IN the olive orchards of California,
but it is probable that they are
driven to the orchards because of the
scarcity of native berries at these
times. Where wild fruit is avail
able, the birds seem to prefer this
to the cultivated varieties.
Like the robin, the bluebird is
very domestic, but unlike the robin,
1t does not prey upon any cultivated
product or work any injury whatso-
ever to the fruit grower. During the
fruit season, in fact, five-sixths of
Its food consists of insects. 1t seems,
therefore, that the common practis
OF encouraging the bluebird to nest
near houses by placing convenient
boxes in which it may build its home
Is thoroughly justified.
A detailed description Of the hab-
Its of the robins and bluebirds is COD
tanned in Bulletin No. III OF tina
United States Department of Agrl-
culture. Bulletin No. ESQ, which
has just been published, takes up the
habits of the six other species OF the
thrush group, which are not quite so
well known. These birds also feed
principally on insects and fruit, but
great portion of the fruit which
they consume is wild berries. Do
nestle fruits are eaten so sparingly
by these species that the damage
done is quite negligible.
The bird known as the Townsend
solitaire is noted chiefly for its song,
which is said to be at times the finest
OF any of the thrush family. This
thrush, however, confines itself al
most entirely to the mountains and
gorges of the far west. The WOOD
thrush, on the other hand, is dis
tributed over the eastern part OF the
United States, and is frequenter OF
open groves and bushy pastures
This thrush also is noted for It's
sweet song, especially in the early
evening. 1t does not nest in gardens
or orchards, however, and is seldom
seen about farm buildings, so that
many people who are familiar with
Its song would not know the bird by