The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-14
(Rv Associated Pressl


WASHINGTON, July 14-Studies
of birds as insect destroyers and of
vermin and parasite pests, extending
through a century of observations,
show that many so-called 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 depart
ment of agriculture, says in a review
in the annual report of the Smithson-
ian Institution just published.
Outstanding among these are cited
the English Sparrow, often system
atically destroyed as a pest, which
nevertheless feeds upon the seventeen
year locust asparagus beetle, locust
leaf miner, tent caterpillar, canker
worm. army worm and drop worm;
and the bob white quail, usually a seed
eater, which also feeds upon the To-
Gust and the olive scale
THE general utility of birds in
checking the increase of injurious ami
mails and plants is well understood,
he continues. 1T must be admitted.
however that while birds constantly
exert a repressive influence on the
numbers of the organisms they prey
upon and even exterminate certain
pests locally, they are not numerous
enough to cope successfully with wide
spread invasions."
Nevertheless, Mr. McAtlee cites
numerous authentic instances where
bird flocks have destroyed insect
plaques and their eggs and larvae so
completely that such species have
never returned to the localities where
formerly they had wrought great crop
damage, or were present in such de-
pleted numbers as to be almost neg
ligible. In most of the cases he cites.
efforts of farmers or gardeners to
eradicate the pests had proven fruit
less and the crops had been given I'D
for lost.
Feed Upon Insects
One reason for this near-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 abund-
ant in locality they will constitute
the birds main food for the time, and
when insects swarm in great numbers,
the birds are attracted to that abund-
ant source and feed upon them until
the supply gives out
Notable among many instances, are
various local determinations of thu
Rocky Mountain or Migratory locust.
which even since 1918 has at times
threatened grain fields in several sec
tons, especially on the Great Plains.
Mr.. McAtee's article tells of numerous
times when grain growers despaired of
saving crops from hordes of Iocusts so
thick upon the ground as TO be count
ed by hundreds upon a square foot OF
held. Just as they had given I'D hope
OF saving their crops, fiocks of yellow
head, and Brewers blackbirds, gulIs.
quail, English sparrows, and other spe-
c1es, appeared and fell upon the pests
with such effect that much of the
grain survived the attacks
Birds Save Crops
The article includes many instances,
as well, of saving crops both field and |
garden, in eastern sections. of near-an- !
limitation of grubs, moths, caterpillars,
beetles and parasites in trees. espn.
clally IN orchards, and shows the grear
good done by birds IN eating weed
seeds.
Owls have been placed in rat or mice
INFESTED cellars and granaries, he says,
with such success as to eliminate there
that scourge of widespread economic
loss in grains and cereals.
Hot house gardeners, he declares.
have often found it profitable to intro
c,ce various species of birds, known
TO be insect or lice destroyers. within
the houses instead of spraying or
otherwise using chemicals and fumi-
eating. The latter processes, he de-
clares, have often been found to weak
en- and stunt the tender young plants.
home, where he had been an inmate
SIX years, the body of John Broueh