452 BOARD OF AGlUCUl/rUKE. 



half of its food consists of insects. Tliey eat more wild fruit than tame. 



The Wood Thrush is a very beneficial bird, and frequents the woods 

 rafhor than the orchard. It cats 21 per cent, of fruit and the remainder 

 of its food is insects. 



Blue birds are almost as common as they were seventeen or eighteen 

 years ago. They were almost destroyed by the cold weather in January 

 and February, 1895, but I am happy to say that they are now recovering 

 their numbers. Seventy-six per cent, of their food is insects, and they 

 eat vegetable foods in winter, but there are very few among them that are 

 fruit eaters. 



The birds which are generally charged with eating small fruits are 

 the Brown Thrasher. Robin, Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Orioles, Red- 

 headed Wodpecker, Crow, English Sparrow and the Jay. English Spar- 

 rows are noted for taking grapes. It is interesting to observe that these 

 birds which came here without food of their own had to adapt themselves 

 to the food of this country. It has sometimes been said that they eat 

 cabbage worms. This is possibly true. Nevertheless English Sparrows 

 are great nuisances. 



Catbirds and Orioles are very bad about eating strawberries. The 

 birds that devour the cherries are the Crow, Common Blackbird, Catbird, 

 Cedar Waxwing, Brown Thrasher, King bird, Red-eyed Vireo, English 

 Sparrow and the Orchard Oriole. 



Orchard Orioles and English Sparrows destroy a great many grapes. 



Raspberries and Blackberries are bothered by the Bob White, Summer 

 Redbird, Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, Cat- 

 bird, Orchard Oriole, Bluebird, Crow, Kingbird, Redheaded Woodpecker 

 and Cedar Waxwing. 



Mulberries are destroyed by the Blue Jay and the Crow. 



With the exception of a few kinds of birds they are all the farmers 

 and fruit growers' friends. With birds as with men, "He who would have 

 friends must be friendly." He must know the birds, something of their 

 habits, and of their requirements. Naturally they are enemies of the 

 great foes of growing plants— the insects. The fruit grower and farmer 

 should ally themselves with their cause. He should seek to learn every 

 way by which these birds can be protected, and this can be readily done. 

 Our State has a model law for the protection of native birds. This should 

 be enforced in every locality. All mammals that are enemies of birds 

 should be exterminated. This should apply even to cats where they de- 

 stroy birds. The value of birds to man, because of their helpfulness, 

 their beauty and their songs, should be taught to old and young. The 

 best field is with the young and through the public schools. We should 

 even go farther than to protect them. Birds should be encouraged. They 

 should be supplied with winter food. Shrubbery and other cover should 

 be provided and nesting sites should be supplied. Building material can 

 also be furnished. Fruit-bearing bushes and trees should be planted to 



