Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1916-02-18
THE BIRDS.

The Importance of caring for
the birds cannot be over estimat-
ed. The effort to do the work |
which the birds formerly did in
the protection of our fruit crops |
fl sm insects now costs millions
If dollars. Birds which few
Years ago were to be seen = /
countless numbers have almos
entirely disappeared. The ca' eI
of their disappearance, in many
instances, is not known. The
wild pigeons which formerly
passed through this Valley in
hocks, miles in length and very
wide have gone. A single pair
cannot now be secured at any
price.
The barn swallows that lived
entirely upon insects seem to be
growing scarcer every year.
Many sweet songsters have
sought homes elsewhere. The
robins seem to be increasing and
The cardinals are becoming SO
tame as to build their nests in
the vines that grow along the
porcheS OF residences. The de-
spised English sparrows are not
altogether Objectionable. The
gravest charge against them is
their pugnacity, driving native
birds away. That they destroy
the eggs Of many injurious in-
s.cts is undoubtedly true. 1t be-
hooves us to ascertain the cause
Of the decrease in the number of
birds.
The English sparrow there is
no doubt is one of the numerous
causes. Another which to a
great extent is overlooked is the
common house cat that seems to
b. the enemy TO all bird life.
Thousands of cedar trees have
been destroyed in order to get
rid of the cedar rust which pn-
m ,logists tell us is charged BILE to
the cedar trees. By the deStruc-
ton of these trees the shelter of
the birds in winter has been de
stroyed and the birds have been
compelled to seek shelter else
where. Hunters kill many, but
protect theabirds by killing the
hawks.
The birds are one Of the most
valuable assets of the farmer,
It has been said that without
birds, people could live but a
very short time on the earth I.
tat insects would destroy all the
crops.
What means of protection
should we adopt =?
The children in our schools
Should be taught to love and pro-
lect the birds. The birds should
be tanned. but not at the loss Of
their liberty. Their nests should
OF be touched. Means should
he adopted to take the place OF
the shelters that were furnished
by the cedar trees. They should
be fed and cared for during the
winter, especially when the
ground is covered by deep SHOWS
They should be protected from
the house cats and the boys 18th
cat rifles. The man with the
double barrel shot gun should OF
be permitted to crafty his love
of sport to the determination of
some of our most valuable b rds.
The government that has pur
chased hundreds of thousands of
acres of our waste mountain lands
in order to preserve the timber.
should extend it's protection t.
the birds and make these ya.t
tracts the breeding places for
birds. Every farmer and eve
owner of a home should adop
such means, as he 10y find fitte
to the purpose, to attract and
protect the birds. If such al
course were adopted, in a shor
time, the sweet songsters would
enliven the homes by the choicest
music, and at the same time pro
tect the orchard, the garden and
tile field crops from the ravage
of destructive insects. Let as ali |
be active friends of the birds.
Hon. James Hay is SatiSfes |