Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1925-06-04
66 KINDS OF BIRDS
EAT BOIL WEEVILS
State Game Commissioner Appeals to
Farmers to Aid in Protection

Sixty six species of birds common
to Georgia consume boil weevils i'll
large quantities every day, saving the
farmers of the state millions OF dol
lars, when it is realized that a pair OF
weevils are capable OF producing over
twelve million descendants i'll one
year, according to a statement made
in a booklet issued by the state
game and fish department, The book
let is an appeal to the farmers of Geor,
gia to aid in the preservation of both
game and non game birds in the state
issued by Commissioner Peter 5
Twitty.
Although specially addressed to thu
farmers Of the state, the booklet als(
contains an appeal to sportsmen t.
"play the game fairly by obeying thu
game laws, and to cooperate will
the farmers by closing gates, going
around planted fields, putting GU
camp fires and otherwise showing ap
probation of the courtesy extended
through permission to hunt on hi
land
The greatest enemies to bird lif'
are declared to be half-starved hous'
cats, stray dogs and forest and busl
fires, and hunters and sportsmen alike
are urged to protect the birds from
these destructive elements, especially
during the nesting season. Methods OF
attracting birds to farm yards, and
keeping them there are described fully
in the booklet.
Quail Valuable
There is lengthy story on the val
lie of Georgia quail to the farmer, and
the question as to whether quail con-
sumo boil wcevils is settled in favor
of The birds. A reasonable amount OF
hunting is encouraged on farms that
are we'll stocked with quail, since they
are prolific i'll reproduction.
A lengthy report is made on a quail
survey that is now being conducted in
two south Georgia and two Florida
counties by the federal government
under tie supervision of Herbert L.
Stod iar6 of Beachton, Grady county,
for the purpose Of increasing the sup
Fly o. quail in that section.
Boys and girls in Georgia are ap-
pealed to for aid i'll protecting birds,
and ,ucge stions are quoted from the
Audubon Society of New York and
the Iuni4r Eird STUDY cubs.
Mrs. Lon Dickey of Fitzgerald,
who has studied bird life for many
years.. has contributed happy little
story on "Syivia's Parrot" to bring
out the aesthetic and sentimental val
ne of bird life in Georgia, especially
to the children.
Ira w. Williams, state entomolo-
gst, wrote a chapter in the booklet,
the campaign for preserva-
ton of birds, and discussing the value
of birds to the farmers as insect de
stroyers.
There are two or three stories
stressing the great damage done by
forest fires in Georgia, both to the
forests and the breeding places for
game. 1t is pointed out that all birds
will leave farm if the farmer does
not preserve sufficient cover as ref
rge and protection.
Another interesting chapter is on
wild flowers, written by Gerard Har-
rs. an authority on conservation. 1t
shows that some of the most beautiful
wild flowers are now practically ex-
tinct because OF wantOn destruction.
Commissioner Twitty makes a per-
sona1 appeal to hunters. asking them
not to "offside" by starting out ahead
of their fellows and not to under
count" their game bags, as golfers
sometimes do in computing their
strokes.
The booklet is not yet off the press,
but will be distributed free of charge
at the offices OF the commission, or
nv mail, and also can be procured
from the county game warden, when
completed 1t will contain numerous
Illustration of Georgia birds and
Georgia scenes.