The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-09-08

OUR BIRD POPULATION

By Fred .. Haskin.


plumbers several millions.
Aside from the practical value Of
the service the bird renders the farm
Ter by the destruction Of insects detri-
mental to his crops there has come q
tremendous recognition Of the esthet-
ic value Of bird life IN the country
within the last decade. Nature study
in the public schools. the boy scout
movement and several other infu=
ences have aided this. Boys no long
er rob birds nests Of their eggs or
pride themselves upon killing ROBINS
with their pop-guns or air rifles. In
stead they are learning 70 protect.
them from other destructive infiu-
ences and are building thousands Of
bird houses each year in their manual
training classes
More Protective.
The federal and state governments
are cooperating to protect the birds
from injury. Each year the shooting
laws are becoming more protective.
Especially for the smaller BIRDS. Bird
refugees, under private and public
auspices are also increasing. The
United States government has nov
|seventy-four bird preserves scattered
over the country to provide quiet
hooks for their protection. Ten Of
them have been established within
the last two years One Of them Is
the old parade ground or the Fort
Niobrara military reservation IN Me-
braska. II has been fenced IN ana a
general invitation given to all birds
to come in and have a good time at
Uncle SANS expense.
"A considerable amount of attention
Is new being given to the cultivatfonl
OF wild plants and weeds bearing
seeds which the birds prefer as food.
A list Of these seed-bearrng plants
has been compiled by the department
Iof agriculture and may. be secured by
any bird lover. A number Of women'sI
clubs are having these plants cult
waited in public parks for the benefit
of the birds Of the community
The cat is the greatest menace TO
the bird life Of the country and much
consideration Is now being given toI
some plan for restricting the feline
trace. In residential districts. stray
cats can be olished by the pound or
some other restrictive measure, Even
1.-THE most cherished pet cat cannot.
however, be cured Of bird eating pro-
clivities. IN some communities, invert-
ed tin, collars Of sufficient size TO pre-
went Puss from climbing over them,
Iare being fastened upon all trees in
(which birds are nesting.
i Unwclcome Cata.
But 1t Is not only IN the towns and
Villages that the cat interferes with
bird life. Millions OF cats are now to
Ibe found scattered throughout the
woods OF the entire country. They are
lanimals which have ESCAPED or been
driven out from domesticity and have
returned to their native wild state.
j The habit Of taking unwelcome cats tol
the edge Of the woods and dumping
them there is costing the lives Of mil
lions Of young birds each year,
Trappers, during the last ten years
have been capturing many cats in the
Isnares set for animals bearing more
valuable fur. They are already be-
ginning vigorous campaign Of cat
determination and many sportsmenI
are Joining IN 1t.
A naturalist, who was two years
ago conducting scientific study Of
the physical resources Of central Cali
fornia. came upon an especially at
tractive forest which was literally
lswarming with cats. He only found
four bird nests in an area of over
twenty miles and was fortunate
enough to rescue one Of these from a
cat which was creeping up to secure
a breakfast Of young birds. He or
dered his men to destroy as many cats
as possible Several ether parties
made war upon the Gets and visit
to the forest this summer showed that
an encouragingly large number Of
birds had returned to forest which
nature had designed for their use