36 



Canadian Forestry Journal, January, 1919 



GUARDING THE MIGRATORY BIRDS. 



The Dominion Parks Branch of the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior has furnished the following 

 data as to the aims and purposes of the Migra- 

 tory Birds Convention Act, and as to the habits 

 of the birds protected by the Act. 



Last year a treaty between Canada and the 

 United States for the protection of useful or 

 harmless migratory birds, the first international 

 treaty ever made in the interests of wild life 

 conservation, was signed at Washington. Those 

 seeking a solution of the problem of the pro- 

 tection of bird life on the continent of North 

 America have for a long time realized that their 

 object would best be reached by international 

 treaty. As long as the matter was left in the 

 hands of the various provinces and states of the 

 two countries, birds protected in one part of the 

 continent might be exposed to destruction, owing 

 to the lack of protective laws, when they mi- 

 grated to another part. 



The Act passed by the Dominion Parliament 

 sanctioning the treaty and providing legislation 

 for its enforcement is known as the Migratory 

 Birds Convention Act. It seems desirable to 

 furnish the public with further information as to 

 its objects. The general public should co- 

 operate with game officers and peace officers to 

 facilitate the strict carrying out of the regula- 

 tions of the Act. The protection of bird life is 

 of supreme importance. 



Birds That Are Useful. 



Insectivorous birds render a magnificent ser- 

 vice by consuming insect species which if un- 

 checked would soon multiply to vast hordes that 

 would utterly destroy the forests and devastate 

 the crops. Migratory game birds are of great 

 value as a source of food and beneficial outdoor 

 sport. In addition to their practical service, 

 many birds are very important from esthetic 

 point of view. The handsome plumage and 

 vocal ability of many species add greatly to the 

 beauty of nature and to the pleasure of the out- 

 doors, and even the unmelodious and plain birds 

 help to give character and animation to the 

 open-air world. So much a part of our lives 

 have the familiar birds grown that without them 

 the world would seem to have lost much of its 

 colour, light and interest. The uniform system 

 of protection provided by the Act is a great step 

 toward their preservation and encouragement, 

 and the Act should have the enthusiastic support 

 of every right-thinking citizen. 



The economic service rendered by insectivor- 

 ous migratory birds cannot be overestimated. 

 There are few of us who fully appreciate this 

 service. The fecundity of insect life is almost 

 beyond belief, and tree and plant life in every 

 stage of growth from the seed to maturity, is 

 attacked by myriads of larvae and full-grown 

 insects. If it were not for their persistent ene- 

 mies, the birds, which devour vast numbers of 

 eggs, larvae and perfect insects, the ravenous 

 insect multitudes would spread desolation 

 throughout the woods and fields. Without the 

 constant help of the birds it would be impossible 

 to protect crops and forests from the innumer- 

 able worm.s, caterpillars, beetles, borers, plant 

 lice and larvae. The forests would not be long 

 in existence but for the unceasing industry of 

 the birds in the pursuit of insects, and protecting 

 and encouraging the birds, and if possible in- 

 creasing their numbers, is the most practical 

 step that can be taken toward the preservation 

 of the timberlands. All who appreciate the 

 enormous value of the forests will realize the 

 vast importance of bird protection. 



For the protection of our forest trees we are 

 particularly indebted to woodpeckers, nut- 

 hatches, creepers, titmice and warblers. There 

 is hardly a crevice in the bark or a single leaf 

 or stem that is overlooked by these birds in 

 their tireless search for insect food, and every 

 foot of ground and litter underneath the trees 

 is minutely examined by the birds for hidden 

 insects. It is of great interest that, to increase 

 their efficiency, nature has assigned different 

 work to the different species according to their 

 habits and equipment, so that while some species 

 with special organization for their tasks, pursue 

 their prey on the trunks and larger limbs, others 

 equipped for their particular work, hunt among 

 the smaller branches and foliage. 



In the past farmers and orchardists, as well 

 as those to whom the smallest bird or animal is 

 game, have destroyed large numbers of useful 

 or harmless birds. The farmers and fruit 

 growers did so under the impression that they 

 were protecting their crops or fruit from the 

 birds. Birds sometimes injure the crops of the 

 farmer who in improving his land has cleared 

 away the wild berry bushes and seed-bearing 

 weeds, which provide the natural food of the 

 birds, forcing them to feed upon the cultivated 

 grain or fruit. But the little harm done by the 

 birds, is infinitesimal, when compared with the 



