Birds in Relation to Agrici'lture in New York State 1789 



keen sight which enables them to see grasshoppers or meadow mice at 

 a considerable distance. These they destroy in much greater ntimbers 

 than they do small birds, and they are therefore deserving of protection 

 and encouragement. They build bulky nests of sticks, straws, and wool, 

 usually in thorn bushes, and lay five to seven grayish eggs spotted with 

 brown. 



Fish, frog, and crayfish eaters . ' 



Fish, frogs, crayfish, and similar forms are food for many of our most 

 striking and interesting birds. The fish taken are largely of the non- 

 commercial varieties, such 

 as minnows and suckers; 

 although occasionally about 

 fish hatcheries and trout 

 ponds these birds are said 

 to do considerable damage 

 to the trout fry. Careful 

 investigation should be 

 made, however, before con- 

 demning them, for the 

 secretive habits and active 

 dispositions of the trout 

 preclude their frequent 

 capture as long as there are 

 the conspicuous minnows 

 and sluggish suckers to 

 provide an easier forage. 



This group of birds can 

 be further subdivided 

 according to their methods 

 of capturing their prey. 

 There are the herons and 

 the bitterns, which stalk 

 their prey and spear it with their javelin-like bills; there are the fish 

 hawks, the kingfishers, and the terns, which watch the water from 

 on high and plunge like animated spears from above ; and there are- the 

 loons, the grebes, and the mergansers, which pursue the fish beneath the 

 water. 



Fig. 20. — Green heron near nest in the alders 



The stalkers 



In this group are included the great blue heron (incorrectly called the 

 crane) , the black-crowned night heron, the little green heron, the bittern, and 

 the least bittern. They have long legs for wading and long toes to keep 



