Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-07-22

prepared by the United States Depart.
ment of Agriculture)
The red-winged blackbird eats very
little fruit and does practically nc
harm to garden or orchard, according
to the United States department OF
agriculture's biologist. In a new
Farmers Bulletin mo. 63O), entitled
Some Common Birds Useful to the
Farmer" it is explained that nearly
seven-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 it is overabundant.
The red-winged or swamp blackbird
in its various forms is found all over
the United States and the region i'm
mediately to the north. While COM
mon in most of its range, it's distribu-
ton Is more or less local, mainly on
account of its Partially for marshes.
1t builds its 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 a 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.
tons, 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 focks 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 a bounty
upon its head. 1t 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 1888 stomachs
showed sthat vegetable matter forms
IA 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 to be taken alive, unless by
bird OF the hycatcher 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 stomaehs in appreci- |
able quantities. They aggregate but |
little more than thirteen per cent of |
he whole food. oats forming nearly |
half OF this amount In view of the |
many complaints that the red-wing |
eats grain, this record is surprisingly |
'mah. The purple grackle has been
'ound to eat more than three times as
much. In the case of the crow, corn
'orms one-third OF the food so that the
blackbird, whose diet is
made up OF only tribe more than one
eighth OF grain. is really one OF the
east destructive species. The most
important item OF the birds food. how.
ever. Is weed seed. which forms prac
ically all OF its food in winter and
lbout fifty-seven per cent OF the fare
II the whole year The principal weed
leeds eaten are those Of ragweed. barn
Iard grass and smar weed That fhaae |