The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-07-29

Allies Are Being Slaughtered
1t Is reported that robins in larg
numbers have been slaughtered her
this summer. Robins are among th'
most valuable allies of our farmers
and anyone who kills robins not on
ly violates state laws, but Injuries
agricultural interests by giving ait
and comfort to insect enemies. You
can't injure the farmers without
hurting everybody.
1t is not the purpose of The Her.
aid to point out guilty parties, but
to call attention to provisions of the
Laws of Idaho on the subject.
Section 1853 of the Compiled
Laws of Idaho says, in part:
1t shall be unlawful for any per-
son or persons within the State of
Idaho, TO hunt, kill, capture or de-
tsroy any song, insectivorous, or in
nocent bird, except English sparrow,
williamson sapsucker, mag
pie, or bee bird at any time of the
year, or TO destroy the eggs or nests
of such birds. 9 3
Sec. 277O. Any person or per-
sons who shall wiIfully violate the
provisions of this Act shall be gull
ty of a misdemeanor and subject to
a fine of not less than twenty-five
dollars ($25.OO) or more than one
hundred dollars ($1OO.O0) when
such person is over sixteen (16)
years of age. When under sixteen
C16) years of age they shall be SUBJ
ject to such punishment as shall be
inflicted upon them by thll6caI jus
tice, probate, or juvenile court.
Birds xii Insect Pests
1t has been estimated by the U. S.
Biological Survey that insects cause
,ur country an annual loss of over
00,000,000.00. In fighting these
'ests we get our best help from the
birds. The stomach of one night
lawk. examined by the Biological
survey, was found to contain $40
So bugs, 8 beetles,
gasps and l spider
Hawks and Owls Eat Rodents
Other birds give us assistance in /
illing rodent pests Many hawks |
nd owls are useful in this way. ,
Ialf bushel of the remains of {
ocket gophers was found near the :
est of a pair of barn owls Chill i
rem should be taught what hawks 3
nd owls are beneficial, and what i
ne are otherwise. The useful spe- .
es should not be made to suffer n
'r the sins of their relatives. 7
Native Sparrows Eat Weed Seeds D
Still other kinds of birds help the
rmer by eating weed seeds. 1t is
that the tree sparrows
one save the farmers of the United T
ates annually s1OO,OOO,OOO.OO by
ting weed seeds. J,
As to English Sparrow Wars w
1t is important to distinguish be- k
cen our native sparrows, of which
ere are many varieties, and the b,
lglish sparrow. The native SPAR cI
VS. are all useful birds and should vi
carefully protected. B.
Frequently there s drive til
ainst the English sparrows. boun- hs
being offered ON their heads.
ot iCSCHtiy iuc DOyS VI Dulicy III
gagged in such a drive. The OBJ. tr
tion to these wars" is that ixex- wi
fenced people who cannot distin- ne
sh between the English sparrow tn
some of our native sparrows lat
en- kill more of the latter than of ou
former Cases are ON record in
h campaigns when only one out Th
every eleven dead birds brought fu
was an English sparrow - the biz
ers were useful native birds. No
should be permitted to engage tai
a campaign against English spar Ag
IS who cannot readily distinguish cia
ween them and every other bird. be
Birds Minister to Health tie
Birds minister to health and COM of