BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA IN RELATION TO THE FRUIT 



INDUSTRY-PART I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In response to numerous com])laints from fruit growers concerning 

 depredations by birds in orchards and vineyards in the Pacific coast 

 region, investigation of the subject was undertaken by the Biological 

 Survey several years ago. In conducting this investigation the 

 writer spent about nineteen months in California, including the fruit 

 seasons of 1901, 11)03, and 1906, during which time he visited the 

 most important fruit-growing regions of the State, inspected hun- 

 dreds of orchards, and interviewed many fruit growers. Kindness 

 and courtesy were everywhere met with, and ever}' facility was ex- 

 tended by orchardists for the acquisition of information, even to a 

 suspension of the customary rules with regard to trespass and shoot- 

 ing on private grounds. In addition to the knowledge gained by 

 field observations, stomachs of all the species of Pacific coast birds 

 economically valuable have been collected, examined, and their con- 

 tents recorded. 



When depredations are so widespread and involve so many differ- 

 ent species of birds, a thorough knowledge of the nature and extent 

 of the damage done and of the attending circumstances is of great 

 importance. Next in importance is a knowledge of the conditions 

 that obtain in fruit-growing regions where depredations by birds do 

 not occur. Tliis information should enable the fruit grower to adjust 

 conditions in his own case so as to mitigate if not wholly prevent 

 the evil. 



In the following pages much stress is laid on the nature of the 

 yearly or seasonal food of some of the more important species of 

 birds, since it often happens that certain birds are more or less harm- 

 ful to a particular crop of fruit, and yet the year through, all things 

 considered, do more good than harm. It must not be forgotten in 

 this connection that there are very few birds whose habits are wholly 

 beneficial. Most of them are neither wholly beneficial nor wholly 

 injurious. They sue beneficial at some seasons and injurious at 

 otliei's. In some localities they are deservedly jiraised for benefits 

 conferred; in others the same species are condemned for destructive 



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