No. 4.] BIRDS AS PROTECTORS OF ORCHARDS. 347 



BIRDS AS PROTECTORS OF ORCHARDS. 



BY E. H. FORBUSH, ORNITHOLOGIST TO THE BOARD. 



Having had some opportunity during the last twenty- 

 years for observing the food habits of birds, I have become 

 convinced that they destroy enormous numbers of insects. 

 This conviction gives rise to the question, To what extent 

 are birds useful to man in this respect ? 



The present paper is merely a partial record of the results 

 of an attempt to foster and protect birds in an old and neg- 

 lected orchard with a view to observino; the effect of such a 

 policy upon the trees. The orchard is so situated as to be 

 a favorite haunt for birds. It forms part of an estate in 

 Medford, Mass., lying near the southern border of the 

 stretch of wooded rocky hills known as the ' ' Middlesex 

 Fells," a large part of which is now under the control of the 

 Metropolitan Park Commission of Massachusetts, and is 

 being administered as a forest reservation. The nearest 

 estates on the east and west of the orchard are cultivated to 

 some extent. There are other orchards in the immediate 

 vicinity, and many large and fine shade trees. There are 

 also on the estate in question many varieties of trees and 

 shrubs. There is a small piece of woodland, covering per- 

 haps an acre and a half, in which yellow pine predominates, 

 the other trees being principally ash, oak and maple, some 

 hickory and a few white pines. A lane running along the 

 southern boundary of the estate is bordered on both sides 

 by elms and poplars. A line of mulberry-trees near the 

 lane affords tempting food for such birds as arc fond of 

 fruit in its season. There arc also many wild cherries and 

 berries of several varieties, together with half a dozen trees 

 of cultivated cherries. 



