Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-07
WATCHING BIRD IMMIGRANTS
TOLD OF BY HASKIN
Daily Letter by Frederic j, Haskin

WASHINGTON, June Foreign
birds coming into this country have
to pass inspection just as people do.
More than 300,0 600 birds are brought
here every year by importers, and as
the immigration officers look out for
foreigners with dangerous or de-
structive ideas, SO Department of
Agriculture experts watch for birds
hat might make trouble on III
shores.
The old story of the English spar
row has been an effective warning
against such bird immigrants. In
1851, half d century before foreign
birds We're subjected to systematic
inspection, some harmless looking
English sparrows were brought to
this country. In England these
sparrows I kept fairly WI in
check by their natural enemies, but
over here they flourished almost un-
disturbed, until they have become
a nation wide pest. Not only are
they destructive to valuable crops,
but with their noise and numbers
they brighten away birds that are
really useful and beautiful.
The question has been raised as to
why some effective enemy of the
sparrow might not be imported. The
answer given is that the enemy
might become another pest. There
is apparently nothing to do except
keep the English sparrows off the
farms as much as possible by various
methods suggested by the Depart
ment OF Agriculture, and T make
sure that other undesirable citizens
of the same sort are debarred from
our shores.
Shipments of birds usually contain
large numbers af parrots. finches
and other species popular as pets,
as well as strange birds destined for
geological parks, ayiaries. and cir
Gus exhibits.
The trade in these wild birds is
conducted like any other important
business. The birds are captured by
agents in the South Seas. China, Al
rica, and other corners of the world,
and sent, generally in shiploads
from central ports.
a single cargo may be made up of
thousands Of birds. One ship which
landed i'm SanFrancisco last summer
brought 1900 bird passengers from
Australia, New Guinea, and the Solo
mon Islands. This collection con-
tanned G,UO0 love birds the little
green parrots that are sometimes
used by fortune tellers to pick III
straws or other symbols. There
were also 1000 zebra finehes, and
/ besides these o. number Of dis
tiuguished passengers, some repre-
senting bird types never before
brought to America.
Many Kinds OF Birds
The coming of n bird entirely new
to this country is an interesting
event, but it is not so rare an occur
renee as might be supposed. Accord
ing TO Department of Agriculture es-
innate, there are about 20. 600 kinds
of birds in the world. About 1900
Of these are found in North Amer
lea and some 1900 kinds have been
imported for various purposes.
This leaves thousands of specimens
which have never been exhibited
here Many of these will never be
seen in America. Some are too deli
cate to stand a long sea trip and the
change in climate. Some req e food
which can not be satisfactorily OBJ
tanned here. And some are too highly
strung to survive captivity and eXis-
tence in a zoo, surrounded by other
birds and by staring human beings.
Many foreign birds, however, are
more sturdy or a'aptable. Among
the newcomers to this country dur
ing the past year are the black cock
atoo and the New Guinea bower
bird. The bower bird Is one of the
most amusing types of wild life. Its
straw bower which it builds is not
fOr nesting purposes but for a play
ground. Here the male bird performs
a. stately counting dance to impress
the female, and here the birds play
games strangely resembling hide and
seek.
Several kagus were imported last
year, a fact worthy of notice since
these birds have rarely been shown
In this country, The kagus, gray
bird with black on wings and tail,
and a bright red bill. has particularly
interesting ways. ITS peculiar cry
can be heard a city block. But the
kagus aGe noted chiefly for their
dancing. The birds raise their crests
and step about in lively fashion, dis
playing their plumage. These
dancing birds are even known tC
hold the tail or wing feathers in
their bills, the better to display
their attractive plumage.
AUX Not The Rarest Bird
Unless a care specimen is start.