The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-07-09


ment OF AgricuIture)
The red-winged blackbird eats very
little fruit and does practically no
harm to garden or orchard. according
TO the United States department Of
agriculture's biologist. In a new
Farmers Bulletin (No. 630), entitled
Some Common Birds Useful to the
Farmer" It is explained that nearly
seyen-eighths of the red-wing's food
Is made up of weed seeds or of insects
injurious to agriculture. This indi-
Gates that the bird should be protect
ed, except perhaps in a few places
where 1t is overabundant.
The red-winged or swamp blackbird
In its various forms is found all over
the United States and the region Inn
mediately to the north. While com
mon In most OF its range, its distribu-
ton is more or less local, mainly on
account of its partiality for marshes.
It builds It's nest over or near standing
water. In tall grass, rushes or bushes.
Owing TO this popularity the bird may
be absent from large tracts Of country
which afford no swamps or marshes
suitable for nesting. 1t usually breeds
In large colonies, though single fam
lilies, consisting OF male and several
females. may sometimes be found In a
small slough. where each female
builds her nest and rears her own little
brood. while her liege lord displays his
brilliant colors and struts in the sun
shine. In the upper Mississippi valley
the species finds most favorable condi-
tions, for the countless prairie sloughs
and the margins of the numerous shall
low lakes AFFORD nesting sites for thou
sands of red-wings; and here are bred
the immense fiocks which sometimes
do so much damage to the grain fields
of the West After the breeding sea-
son the birds congregate preparatory
to migration, and remain thus associ-
ated throughout the winter.
Three species and several subspe-
cies of red-wings are recognized, but
practically no difference exists in the
habits Of these forms either in nesting
or feeding. except such as may result
from local conditions. Most OF the
forms are found on the Pacific side
Of the continent and may be consid-
cred as included In the following state
ments as to food and economic status.
Many complaints have been made
against the red-wing. and several
states have at times placed bounty
upon Its head. II is said to cause
great damage to grain in the West,
especially in the upper Mississippi
valley, but no complaints come from
the northeastern section, where the
bird is much less abundant than In the
West and South.
Examination of 1898 stomachs
showed that vegetable matter forms
"a per cent OF the food. while animal
matter, mainly insects, forms but 26
per cent. A little more than ten per
cent consists OF beetles, mostly harm
full species. Weevils, or snout beetles.
amount to four per cent of the years,
foot. but in June reach 25 per cent.
As weevils are among the most harm
full insects known, their destruction
should condone some, at least. of the
sins OF which the bird is accused.
Grasshoppers constitute nearly five per
cent of the food, while the rest of the
animal matter is made up of various
insects, few snails, and crustaceans.
The few dragon flies found were prob
ably picked up dead. for they are too
active 10 be taken alive. unless by q
bird OF the fiycatcher family So far
as the insect food as whole Is con-
cerned, the red-wing may be consid-
cred entirely beneficial
The interest In the vegetable food
OF this bird centers around grain. Only
three kinds, corn, wheat and oats,
were found In the stomachs in appreci-
able quantities. They aggregate but
little more than thirteen per cent Of
the whole food. oats forming nearly
half OF this amount. In view OF the
many Complaints that the red-wing
eats grain, this record il surprisingly
small. The purple gracklc has been
found TO eat more than three times as
much. In the case OF the crow, corn
forms one-third OF the food. so that the
red-winged blackbird. whose diet Is
made up OF only trifie more than one
eighth OF grain, is really one OF the
least destructive species. The most
important item OF the birds food. how
ever, is weed seed. which forms prac-
tically all OF It's food in winter and
about iifty-seyen per cent Of the fare
OF the whole year The principal weed
seeds eaten are those OF ragweed. barn
yard grass and smartweed That these