The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-07-03
BIRDS EFFECTIVE
AID TO FARMER
Destroy More Insects and
Parasite Pests Than
Seed Crops
EATS MANY WORMS
ENGLISH SPARROW
In Many Instances Birds Clear Up In
sect Plaques - Ducks on Ponds Are
Great Mosquito EXterminators-Bi
Help In Hot Houses

Help In Hot Houses
WASHINGTON, July 3.-Studies of
birds as insect destroyers and of YER
min and parasite pests, extending
through a century of observations. show
that many so-caIled bird pests are
themselves effective aids to the farmer.
and others not generally thought to be
insect destroyers are active in that
work, w. l.. McAtee, of the biological
survey of the department of agricul-
ture, says in a review in the annual
report of the Smithsonian Institution
just published.
Outstanding among these are cited
the English sparrow, often systemati-
cally destroyed as a pest, which never
theless feeds upon the seventeen-year
miner, tent caterpillar. canker worm,
ARM worm and drop worm; and the
bob white quail, usually a seed eater,
which also feeds upon the locust and
the olive scale.
The general utility of birds in
checking the increase of injurious
animals and plants is well understood .
however, that while birds constantly
exert a repressive influence on the num-
bers of the organisms they prey upon
and even eXterminate certain pests To-
cally, they are not numerous enough to
cope successfully with widespread in
vasions.'
Clean Up Some Pests
Nevertheless, Mr. McAtee cites num-
erous authentic instances where bird
llocks have destroyed insect plaques and
their eggs and larve so completely that
such species have never returned to the
localities where formerly they had
wrought great crop damage, or were
present in such depleted numbers as to
be almost negligible In most of the
cases he cites, efforts of farmers or
gardeners TO eradicate the pests had
proven fruitless and the crops had been
given up for lost.
One reason for this ear-eXtermina-
ton at times, he says, Is that birds are
prone to feed upon whatever food is
most easy to procure at the time. So
that if berries or fruit are abundant in
a locality they will constitute the birds
main food for the time, and when in
sects swarm in great numbers, the birds
are attracted to that abundant source
and feed upon them until the supply
gives out
The article includes MANY instances,
as well, Of saving crops both field and
garden. in eastern sections, OF near-an-
Inhalation of grubs. moths, caterpillars,
bzttles and parasites in trees. especlafv
ia orchards, and shows the great good
done by birds in eating weed seeds.
Owls Very Useful
Owls have been placed in rat or
u icc-infested cellars and granaries, he
SAYS, with such success as to eliminate
there that source of widespread eco
nolnic loss ia grains and cereals.
Hot house gardeners, he declares. have
often found it profitable to introduce
various species OF birds, known TO be in
sect or lice destroyers within the houses
instead of spraying or otherwise using
ahemicals and fumigating. The latter
| processes. he declares, have often been
| found to weaken and stunt the tender
| Young plants. while no disadvantage
| otherwise arose from the presence OF
| the birds.
While it is true. he saws, that many
snecies feed upon and yearly DESTROY
quantities of grains. fruits or berries,
| the good they do in eradicating or keep
| ING down the numbers of the growers
other enemies. is more than worth this
SLIGHT reimbursement.
He also tells how ducks have been
used as exterminatoTs of insect pests.
| especially mosquitoes. by keeping them
on ponds or in marshes where they feed
upon the larvae or young. Ducks have
proven invaluable in thus cleaning out
| marshv sections which could not other
| wise be rid of mosquitoes by draining.