The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-05-03
BIRDS ARE INDISPENSABLE
CONTINUED from Page u

damage to the sPOuIlnb gra-n when
it bores for the worms is true, but it is
slight compared TO harm the worms
would do ii allowed to live.
The Red-winged Blackbird during
the months, September. October, No
vember, December, January. February
and March lives almost wholly upon
weed seed. In April and May about
20 per cent of its food consists of the
grain picked up from the fields where
the farmer is sowing it and the rest OF
weedseed and injurious insects. In
June it lives almost wholly upon injur-
ious insects: while in July aud August
one-half OF its TODD consists OF grain
picked up in the harvestfelds where
it has been scattered by the farmer
when gathering his crops. According
TO these figures only 1870 of this birds
time is spent in doing harm.
OF the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1O9
stomachs were examined The con
tents consisted OF 1865 caterpillars. 90
beetles, 242 grasshoppers, 81 saw flies,
60 bugs, flies and &c spiders. One
stomach contained 250 tent caterpil-
lare.
by the way, have you ever noticed
! where the greatest rayages Of the tent
caterpillars occur? 1t is in and about
the villages and cities where the pres
ence OF man has frightened the birds
AVA
First a few words about the Robin,
bird that receives a good many
curses from the cherry and strawberry
! growers. Only per cent OF the
Robins food consists of cultivated fruit
but since this per cent comes at the
season when cherries and strawberries
are maturing, it is a source OF great
annoyance to the farmers. However
the farmer could easily prevent this
for the room prefers wild fruit to cul-
tiYated and two or three wild cherry
trees planted near by will protect a
whole orchard of cultivated cherry
trees or a field Of Strawberries.
But can any good word be said for
the Hawks. Those birds for whose de
stluction a gun always stands loaded
in nearly every farmhouse? Let US
examine into the habits Of the hawks
found in the vicinity of Bennington.
There are seven different species that
are common. The Sparrow Hawk is
most common. During the summer
this bird lives upon grasshoppers,
crickets, caterpillars. beetles and 9th.
er insects and during the rest of the
year upon meadow mice and house
mice. No chicken meat at all
The Marsh Hawk is the greatest
mouser we have. 1t beats a dozen
cats, fer 90 per cent of its food is
mice. The other per cent consists OF
squirrels, rabbits and chickens.
Speaking Of cats, did you know that
domestic cats average over so wild
birds killed in each year?
The Red-tailed Hawk is the one
usually called the Hen Hawk and is
shot for that reason, but 80 per cent
of its food consists of injurious NAM
mails and insects, IL per cent Of
wild birds and only / IL per cent poul
try.
The Red-shouldered Hawk, a close
kin to the red tailed. is more destruc-
|
its food consist of barn yard fowl
The .BroadWinge1 Hawk eats no
chickens at all, living wholly upon
small mammals, grasshOppers, crich-
cts, caterpillars, and such animals.
This bird does indirect injury because
1t eats many toads and frogs who are
great insect destroyers.
| Tho GOOnar IIa4ul 10
a chicken hawk and is by far the most
destructive species We have 1t feeds
chiefly upon fowl, wild birds and SOUR
rels. Frequently the only part of its
prey eaten Is the heart
The Sharpshinned Hawk, miniature
OF the Cooper is fully as destructive
to birdlife as its larger cousin, but its
small size. which is about that Of a
robin, prevents it from destroying fowl
although ii will take small chickens.
It is very destructive to small wild
birds which constitute, at least 80 per
cent of its diet
To sum up-of the species of
hawks commonly found here there are
only two that are harmful. They. OF
course, should be killed, not only be-
, cause they steal the farmers chickens,
but also because they destroy SO many
( wild birds that are beneficial.
Does the farmer use discretion in
his war Of determination against the
hawks? By no means. To most far.
mers, hawk is hawk and ell should
be killed The result of this foolish
methCd is that the slow-moving
leisurelyAying hawks are killed be.
cause they are most frequently seen
and most easily shot Since the five
beneficial species are OF this slow.mov.
ing type, they are the ones most FIRE.
quently shot and in greatest danger Of
determination. On the other hand the
sly, quick moving harmful Cooper and
Sharp-shinned hawks are rarely. if
ever, shot by farmers. During the past
10 years, have not known of single
Cooper or sharp-shinned hawk being
shot by farmer while have seen
many of the beneficial hawks fall be-
fore his gun. II is only few years
ago that saw a farmer bringing into
the village Marsh-hawks that he had
shot ON his farm. He would have
shown much better sense il he had
shot his hest COW and left the hawks
to keep his fields free from leld-mice
That this is not a fantastic statement.
can easily prove to you. AS s
meadow.mice have been found in the
stomach of a single marsh hawk and
as this represents but part Of the days