Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-01-13

With the extreme weather conditions
that nave prevailed throughout Mon
tana and its ~neighbOring states, game
birds, songsters and feathered friends
that decline to leave their native hab-
itat, have been fighting for food and
grit with which to stave on the ravages
Of the cold. Game authorities and
spOrtsmen generally h are cOnvers-
ant with conditions assert that the
situation has not yet become severe,
but that, with a recurrence Of the Sc
we're weather, the bird loss may be
heavy.
Hence, they have sounded the call to
farmers and city folks alike to feed the
birds and preserve the seed stock for
next season. Sparrows and pigeons have
been found frozen in the streets of Hell
ena, yet q case Of freezing has yet to be
reported to headquarters Of the state
fish and game commission Of a game
bird that has died from the rigors Of
winter.
Wheat, cracked corn, suet and grit are
the most desired foods for tiny birds.
Damp bread crumps are often fatal be-
caus of freezing in the craw. Food
placed in sheltered hooks, alongside
porches or in protected shrubbery means
much to the feathered family during
these trying days. Many bird lovers have
constructed feed boxes protected from the
weather where the grain may be placed
on a floor away from the winds and snow.
Montanas state game commission last
year closed the season on upland game
birds to protect the few remaining pairs
because Of the losses during the damp
spring. These birds have multiplied rap
idly and, unless inroads are made on the
ruffed grouse, willow grouse, sage hens,
prairie chickens, Hungarian and Chinese
pheasants, they promise to emerge by
The thousands next spring. Little fear is
expressed that the native pheasants,
grouse and Hungarians will suffer, but
unless the imported Chinese beauties are
fed, they may be lost. Farmers through
out the state are feeding and protecting
them. Grass seeds and weed seeds which
they most prefer, are plentiful.
The damp season brought a rank
growth Of cover and this aids the Mon
golians and other birds in escaping Bit
ter winds. Haystacks dot the farms,
wheat In hundreds OF acres has not yet
been threshed and feCu generally is plen-
tiful in the agricultural districts. Re-
ports made to Robert H. Hill, state game
warden, are to the effect hat the cold
weather drove Hungarian cartridges and
prairie chickens into the town OF Malta
by the coveys. Hungarians will dig their
way through the SNOW crust and scratch
through drifts to the grit hat is so
necessary in grinding and dtgesting their
food. With food plenty n grit lacking
the birds die Of dysentery. Hence the
combination OF grain and grit is essential.
Deputy game wardens throughout the
state have been instructed TT purchase
wheat and other grains when necessary
to feed birds" said Game Warden Hill.
THE feed is not thrown aside carelessly.
The coveys are located and the grain dis
tributed in nearby cover where 1t will be
reached and not wasted.
I'VE are preparing to feed the elk and
deer in the north fork and south fork
OF the Flathead country, in case
1t is necessary. Forestry officials have re-
quested hat this p~recaution be taken
and Chairman T. N. Marlowe of the COM
mission has instructed that baled hay be
taken to these regions to be fed If con-
ditions demand.
wild life generally is in good condi-
ton, however, because of the abundance
Of feed and cover raised during the last
producing season.