THE WOODPECKERS: BIRD FRIENDS OF OUR FORESTS 



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they have a great many vernacular ones applied to them. 

 As a group, they oonstkute tfie genus Colaptes, our 

 common Flicker of the East, widely known as the 

 Golden-winged Woodpecker, being C. a. auratus (Figs. 

 12 and 13). This bird has had many historians since 

 the first days of the Republic. 



Flickers consume no end of insect pests, a few ground 

 beetles, and a very small amount of grain and fruit; 

 so that, as far as man is concerned, the bird is a friend, 

 and should be protected to the limit. It has but one 

 unfortunate trait in common with other species 

 namely, that of sowing poison ivy seeds broadcast. 

 This is a trick we have no means at our command to 

 break him of at least none has thus far been proposed. 

 This bird has a bill quite different from the average 

 woodpecker, being rounded end somewhat curved 

 downwards. 



In cities the Flicker seems to have no dread of man; 



and last summer I passed within a yard of a fine male 

 on the Smithsonian grounds, it being engaged at the 

 time in pulling out some worm or other hidden in the 

 sod. The bird looked at me inquisitively once or twice, 

 but kept steadily at the task upon which it was so busily 

 engaged. 



One of the most absurd accounts of this bird was 

 left us by the Count de Buffon, and one of the best 

 accounts by Wilson the latter, by the way, well raps 

 the Count for his untruthful history of the species. But 

 this is a side of ornithological literature which, though 

 intensely instructive, can in no way be entered upon in 

 the present article. On the other hand, perhaps 

 enough has been set forth to convince those who may 

 previously have had their doubts, that, taken as a family, 

 the woodpeckers are among the best of our bird friends, 

 in so far as forest protection goes and that is a very 

 important item. 



FORESTRY STUDENTS PLANT TREES 



International Newsreel Photo. 



Students of the New York State School of Forestry are pictured here planting trees on abandoned farm lands. Young 

 forest trees have been used to aid in the national plan of reforestation, as in the entire country there is a total of 

 85.000.000 acres that will undergo this natural treatment. The economic welfare of the nation depends a great deal upon 

 the forests, and the United States Forest Service has been instrumental in urging and aiding in reforestation in many parts of 

 the country. 



