FACTORS IN BIRD MORTALITY 



By ISAAC L HESS, PhiloJII. 



The life of a bird is one of continual danj^cr and few deaths 

 occur other than in tragedies. 



In considering the factors responsible for the general de- 

 crease in bird life, I should divide the forces into those which 

 cause immediate death to birds and those which spread disaster 

 to the increase. Of the first forces in order of importance, I 

 should tabulate the elements, cats, other mammals, birds of prev\ 

 man, snakes. 



Of the forces mostly responsible for destruction of eggs and 

 young I should name the agriculturist, storms, squirrels, cats» 

 cowbirds, crows and jays, small quadrupeds, snakes, collectors. 



Birds come into life with an instinctive fear of man and 



most other animals. By kind treatment man may overcome to a 

 considerable extent this feeling of dread and succeed in attract- 

 ing many birds to dwell near our homes. 



And strange as it may seem, man's very efforts in enticing 

 birds to seek homes in our gardens and shrubberies, are often 

 responsible for the loss of great numbers of bird lives. We coax 

 the birds into a feehng of security until they feel safe in making 

 their homes near us and then we allow the innocent (?) house cat 



