60 WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



The Downy Woodpecker is one of the smaller 

 of our North American species, but of insect 

 destroyers it is literally the little giant. Seventy- 

 four per cent of its food consists of insects injurious 

 to trees, and 25 per cent only is of vegetable origin. 

 The Hairy Woodpecker is a close rival of the 

 downy, in size, color, habits and dynamic force. Its 

 official record is 68 per cent of insect food. Both 

 these species remain in this region throughout the 

 year. 



After the woodpeckers, the nuthatches and brown 

 creepers render valuable service to trees by going 

 over their trunks inch by inch, picking off and 

 devouring the scale-insects, bark-lice and any other 

 surface pests that can be captured without digging. 

 Their slender beaks are like tiny forceps for all 

 crevices, but they are totally unfit for the gouge 

 and gimlet work in which the woodpecker excels. 



The pert little Black-Capped Chickadee also 

 lives with us all winter, and it seems to be a bird of 

 infinite leisure. Rarely will you see it at work. 

 When you approach, it devotes all its time to visit- 

 ing with you, and so long as you remain near it, its 

 interest in you never flags. Inasmuch as it feeds 

 upon tree-inhabiting insects, it is certain that it 

 performs its small share of tree-protection work. 



In view of the very great value of the wood- 

 peckers, their steady disappearance has been noted 

 with increasing regret and alarm. Ten years ago, 

 these birds were far more numerous in southern 



