FOREIGN SONG BIRDS IN OREGON. 



QJ. 



(JY'N 1889 and 1892 the German 

 Song Bird Society of Oregon 

 introduced there 400 pairs of 

 the following species of Ger- 

 man song birds, to- wit : Song 

 Thrushes, Black Thrushes, Skylarks, 

 Woodlarks, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, 

 Ziskins, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, 

 Grossbeaks, Black Starlings, Robin 

 Redbreasts, Linnets, Singing Quails, 

 Goldhammers, Linnets, Forest Finches, 

 and the plain and black headed Night- 

 ingales. The funds for defraying the 

 cost of importation and other incidental 

 expenses, and for the keeping of the 

 birds through the winter, were sub- 

 scribed by the citizens of Portland and 

 other localities in Oregon. To import 

 the first lot cost about $1,400. After 

 the birds were received they were 

 placed on exhibition at the Exposition 

 building for some days, and about 

 $400 was realized, which was applied 

 toward the expense. Subsequently all 

 the birds, with the exception of the 

 Sky and Wood Larks, were liberated 

 near the City Park. The latter birds 

 were turned loose about the fields in 

 the Willamette Valley. 



When the second invoice of birds 

 arrived it was late in the season, and 

 Mr. Frank Dekum caused a very large 

 aviary to be built near his residence 

 where all the sweet little strangers 

 were safely housed and cared for during 

 the winter. The birds were all liberated 

 early in April. Up to that time 

 (Spring of 1893) the total cost of 



importing the birds amounted to $2, 100. 



Since these birds were given their 

 liberty the most encouraging results 

 have followed. It is generally believed 

 that the two varieties of Nightingales 

 have become extinct, as few survived 

 the long trip and none have since been 

 seen. All the other varieties have 

 multiplied with great rapidity. This 

 is true especially of the Skylarks. 

 These birds rear from two to four 

 broods every season. Hundreds of them 

 are seen in the fields and meadows in 

 and about East Portland, and their 

 sweet songs are a source of delight to 

 every one. About Rooster Rock, 

 twenty-five miles east of Portland on 

 the Columbia, great numbers are to be 

 seen. In fact the whole Willamette 

 Valley from Portland to Roseburg is 

 full of them, probably not as plentiful 

 as the Ring-neck Pheasant but plenti- 

 ful enough for all practical purposes. 

 In and about the city these sweet little 

 songsters are in considerable abund- 

 ance. A number of the Black Starling 

 make their homes about the high 

 school building. The Woodlarks are 

 also in evidence to a pleasing extent. 



There is a special State law in force 

 for the protection of these imported 

 birds. They are all friends of the 

 farmer, especially of the orchardists. 

 They are the tireless and unremitting 

 enemy of every species of bug and 

 worm infesting vegetables, crops, fruit, 

 etc. — S. H. GREEnE, in Forest and 

 Stream 



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