12 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



A few years ago we might have inckided in this Hst the Wood Duck and the 

 Woodcock, both of which had become very scarce and were beheved to be 

 in imminent danger of extinction; fortunately, however, these two birds 

 seem to be no longer decreasing, and there is reason to hope that they may 

 again become fairly common. 



Of course there are scores of other species which have decreased greatly, 

 and some of them may be exterminated eventually before those just named. 

 Almost every so-called game bird and water fowl is far less abundant than 

 formerly, and nothing but a general recognition of the danger and wise 

 legislation coupled with hearty and universal support can prevent their 

 final extinction in the not distant future. The eight birds just named, 

 however, at present seem to be those in greatest danger. The supposed 

 causes of their decrease are discussed at length in connection with the life 

 history of each species, so that we need not go into details here. It may 

 be well to note, however, that five separate, yet more or less connected factors, 

 have been operative in affecting the numbers of our birds; namely, the gun, 

 the axe, fire, the drain, the plow. Of these by far the most important agent 

 for decrease has been the gun, and its influence is steadily increasing. Axe, 

 fire and plow form a trio of destructive and reconstructive agents which 

 perhaps are now near the maximum of their combined power, though the 

 sound of the axe has been growing steadily fainter for twenty years past. 

 The drain and the plow are still powerfully affecting our bird fauna, un- 

 questionably lessening the number of species, but just as surely increasing 

 the total bird population through the increased food supply and better 

 protection during the nesting season. 



With the exception of the Pileated Woodpecker, whose decrease depends 

 directly on the removal of the forest, probably no one of the eight species 

 now in danger has reached its present condition through the action of any 

 single factor among those named. The Greater Egret, never common, has 

 decreased steadily with other members of its family as the swamps have been 

 drained and the use of the gun become more common. The Sandhill Crane 

 has been a favorite mark for the rifle, its flesh forms palatable food, and its 

 nesting grounds have been lessened through drainage. The disappearance 

 of the Knot and Curlew is not fully explained, but is partly, though not en- 

 tirely, due to the gun; neither species, however, nests within our limits and 

 doubtless some factor operative on. the nesting ground is largely responsible 

 for the decrease. The Upland Plover has been rigorously followed as a game 

 bird, but the cultivation of the prairies and pastures in Avhich it loves to 

 nest is partly responsible for its steadily failing numbers. Much the same 

 causes have aided the disappearance of the Prairie Chicken, although the 

 drain, the plow and fire have all been operative. The case of the Raven is 

 unique. It certainly retires before advancing civilization, but precisely 

 for what reason we are unable to say. The territory which seems to become 

 untenable for the Raven is at once fully and safely occupied by the Crow, 

 a near relative and of similar habits. Of late years, especially in the Upper 

 Peninsula, the remaining Ravens have been largely killed by poison intended 

 primarily for wolves. 



HOW TO STUDY BIRDS. 



The study of birds, hke any other study, has two main objects, first, to 

 acquire additional knowledge of facts; second, to increase the power of gaining 

 knowledge. The lover of birds wishes to increase his knowledge of them, 



