The Republican journal., 1915-02-11
THE BIRDS OF FLORIDA.
IB. H. Newell in the Laytona, Florida, Morn
ing Journal

b. ii. Newell in the Laytona, fioIiuo' "'oi"
ing Journal
The Naturalist Audubon, with plenty
of money and another great asset IN MS
love of nature, spent many, many months
in this beautiful State of Florida. Ger
tainly at that time, when the STUDY OF
bird life in this section OF America was
in its infancy, there was grand opening
for winning a name and fame, especiaiiy
in the study of aquatic and shore pros.
With Its vast eXpanses of river and lake,
studded with islands of various sizes,
yerdure and soil, a new variety OF bro
life at nearly every island and the privll-
eye of Strengthening at will any ana all
varieties, by the boat load if he desired,
it was not as difficult to study bird life
as in these days, when for such slaughter
all his money would be needed to pay |
fines Now field glass is supposed to
be the only weapon used, and indeed II
seems to me that when bird cannot be
recognized with this instrument, and by
his call notes, song, ETC.. In this country
where on account of the good protection
many birds are so tame as to be almost
domestic, it is because such distinction
as an extra wing feather makes the study
too fine and eXasperating work TOR the
rdinary lover of nature.
Mentioning bird slaughter, with all the
laws which forbid it, | have never heard
naturalist say, or heard OF MS saying
that such birds as the shrike, piue Jay
(of which there are two kinds IN FLORIDA
the northern or common blueJay anu
the Forda) crow, etc, ought TO De eH-
terminated, In case of the blueJay there
NAV he something to be said in his favor
on account of beautiful plumage; out
A.
beauties and would hardly be allowed In
social circles even if they were, on ac-
count of their UNDESIRABLE and devoted
annette for their townsfolk. Under my
own observation these three last named
species of birds. combined with cats and
hawks, cause more CONSERVATION ana
death among the song and lnsectlVerous
birds in one month than small boys Would
do in ten wears. The shrikes logger
head) are about the size and look very
much like the hooking bird. The color
of the breast is mu>h lighter than the
mocking bird, wings darker. and there Is
a dark patch or stripe running across the
face, which is missing IN the mockllg
bird. The shrike is nine inches long, the
mocking bird ten and one-half inches,
The shrlke is very innocent looking, as
he very plavfully pounces upon red BIRD
few DAYS ago, told me that cat bird
could vhip any bird in this State; that
his landladv hung her two canares out
on the verarda and along came one OF
these catbirds and started fight with
them through the cage wires and snlpped
both their heads otf-some lighter that
bird The man said this catblrd had
bill like parrot, so l believe must
have had some loggerhead shrike in his
veins. If he could have gotten their
bodies from the cage he would probably
have eaten one at that time, and lmpaieQ
the other on thorn bush for future ret
erence And then the croWs-they are
very wise in some sections OF the coun-
tiy and viii arise very early IN the morn
ing and visit the country villages, helping
themselves to all the young ROBINS they
can fnd-but the great naturallsts say
they "pull up corn to get the grub or
worm at the roots, " thus otfseung all the
damage they do.
The fact that the Ruby-throated hum
ming bird is SO plentiful here in Daytona
through the months of January and Feb
ruary. ought to be good advertisement
for the climate as awinter resort, for these
delicate and tiny creatures can live only
where the flowers are eternally IN bloom
or where they at least seem to be so.
have kept list of the birds have seen
here during January. which may be of
interest:
]. Rufus-necked Pelican.
2. Bald Eagle.
3. Great Blue Heron.
1. Little Blue Heron.
3. Louisiana Heron.
6. Snowy Egret
7. Herring Gull.
5. Bonapartes Gull.
g. Common Tern,
10. Silvery Tern.
II. Turkey Buzzard.
l2 kildcer Plover.
10. Spotted Sandpipef,
IA Blue Jay.
Is. Florida Jay.
Is. Fish Hawk.
II. Crow Blackbird.
Is Redwinged Blackbird.
49, Rusty Blackblrd,
20 Robin
81. Flicker,
o. Red Belied Woodpecker.
%. YelIowbeIlied Wcodpecker.
"a. kngfisher.
25. Loggerhead Shrlke.
26. Cardinal Grosbeak Tor red bird).
81 Carolina Wren.
90 Mocking bird.
20, Ruby throated Hummingbird.
80. White-breasted Swallow.
81 Phoebebird,
3d. Govt
80. Butterbill Duck
a. Great Northern Loon.
35. Florida Loon.
SO. Myrtle Warbler.
81. Redpolled Warbler.