The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-12-24

hundred species in the United States, as a whoie
shows good economic record The sparrows' OF
fnches, are essentially seed eaters, but they co'
sumo also fair proportion Of insects, and IN geh
eral must be regarded as beneficial
The managers and swallows are almost exclusive
y beneficial the latter especially being ure'ess
destroyers of great variety of insects
If soft plumage and harmonious colors were the
criteria of bird worth. the cedar waxwln2 "ou,u
stand near the top. Economically, however, II Is
In the doubtful, even the very doubtful, class. IL
Is too fond Of flowers, buds, and fruits, especiay
cherries and 1t consorts in such large hocks "hiie
gratifying these tastes that the interests Oh nia
kind suffer considerably.
The butcher BIRDS or shrikes, which have the
curious habit of hanging part of their prey upon
thorns, in crotches, or in other sultaDle p'aces'
destroy some birds, but on the whole are Denencai.
About 10 kinds of smooth greencoated vireos
and IS kinds of warbers of varied and Driiilant
but neat pumages constitute the especiai guarui'
ans of the foliage Of trees There are millions
of warblers and vireos in North America, and the
aggregate destruction of insects by them is beyond
conception.
Allied In service to the warbers are the bark
climbing creepers, the industrious and lnquisitiVe
nuthatches the restless and active chickadees ana
titmice. and the tree-scanning kingets and gnat-
catchers, of which groups there are In the ohi'ed
States more than 20 species.
Mockingbirds catbrds and thrashers are dis
tinguished by unusual ability as songsters ECO
nomically considered, all are rather too fond OF
cultivated fruits but as rule they do more good
than harm.
Closely related to the Knockers and thrashers are
the wrens, of which we have IL species. Ihese ht.
tIe birds are necessarily active treless, ana gooo
singers almost wholly insectiyorous, ana conse-
auently beneficial to high degree.
Only one family of small land birds remains I"
no mentioned namely, that including the thrusnes'
robins and bluebirds. The thruShes are character-
istic woodland species, and while not OF great eco
nomc Importance are Tor the most part commend
ohle in their relation to Robins and blue.
hirds are the most familiar species about our
homes and so beloved are they that they are al
most immune from persecution. The bluebirds
strictly deserve this high consideration, but the
robins take large toll from cultivated fruits, ano
probably are too numerous in many localities
To understand the economic value of BIRDS moi
only must the feeding habits Of species and famil
los no known but also the collective effect of birds
upon pests and crops. MOST OF t.eir u.''ase =
suits from local over-abundance either OF one spe
c;as ar of q number Of species of similar feeding
bahts and II is inflicted chiefly upon fruit ant
grain crops.
r. birds nv their united effort are potent to &C
complish great harm. they are Tor the same rea
son able to do great good In the destruction o
insect pests. Fortunately. many more species ar
upon which birds can feed are always Attended .
gatherings of the bird clans
rhe American Ornithologsts union model lay
for the protection of birds has been adopted by
Of the As States of the Union. The mgratory-bir
treaty act putting into force treaty with Grea
Britain for the protection of migratory birds, SUI
Elements and re-enforces the state legislation.
II remains only for public opinion to back tn
law at every point, and for citizens to put into e
feet every practicable measure for the increas
and conservation of bird life. The essentials {
bird attraction are the suppression OF enemies an
the provision of water, food and nesting Sites
Material increase in the numbers of birds admi
tedly is a two-sided problem: Some birds of neg
tive value should not be increased while other
not now notceably destructive, may become
when they are more abundant On the other han
there Is no doubt that the majority of birds Al
more beneficial than injurious and that byaincrea
ing their numbers we shall do ourselves snd y
country q valuable service