FOOD OF WEST VIRGINIA BIRDS 25 



of the very effective nation-wide work of the National Association of 

 Audubon Societies. Through their official organ, Bird-Lore, by means 

 of high class literature and through a never-ceasing campaign for better 

 laws for the protection of birds this organization has accomplished 

 results that can never be estimated and that are not now fully appre- 

 ciated. 



Special Means of Protection. 



Se;eral specific methods of protecting the birds should be mentioned 

 here. There are many effective methods that have been used. The 

 plan of setting aside large tracts of land as game refuges, a plan now 

 being carried out to some extent by our State Game Warden, will be 

 most effective in West Virginia, as it has been elsewhere, in helping 

 to increase the numbers of our birds. In several places in our State, 

 persons who are interested in the birds are planting groves of fruit- 

 bearing shrubs and trees that the birds may be attracted and preserved 

 by the great quantities of fruit thus provided. If any farmer will plant 

 out a small grove of wild mulberry, Russian mulberry, wild cherry, 

 service berry, and other trees or such fruit-producing shrubs as the dog- 

 woods, haws, sumacs, sassafras, hollies, raspberries, blackberries, elder- 

 berries, etc., he will be rewarded by having his own cultivated fruits 

 somewhat protected and by the constant presence and help of large 

 numbers of insect-eating birds. The thickets that may be left in some 

 unused corner of farm, garden or orchard afford shelter to the birds 

 and thus protect them from the cold and from some of their natural 

 enemies. If all needless cats are destroyed, the bird population will 

 greatly increase. In winter time food may be scattered out when there 

 are long-continued snows and food is becoming scarce. Nesting places 

 may be provided, and the birds may be encouraged in many ways to 

 build their nests about one's premises. No nests should be destroyed 

 except those of the more harmful species. A spirit of general friendli- 

 ness manifested towards the birds will do much to protect them from 

 their enemies and to encourage them to do well their part of the 

 work of the great natural world. 



Protective Laws. 



All our migratory birds are now protected by Federal laws. Our State 

 also has, in a somewhat modified form, what is called the Model Audubon 

 Law for the protection of birds. If these laws were enforced as they 

 should be, we would have an immediate increase in the numbers of 

 our useful birds and the work of other protective agencies would be 

 greatly lessened. By these two laws practically all of our birds ex- 

 cepting the Hawks, Owls, the Crow, Belted Kingfisher and English 

 Sparrow are rigidly protected. All laws should be enforced and 

 especially should such helpful laws as these have back of them the full 

 power of enlightened public sentiment. Useful birds are protected by 

 the laws of our State and this protection should be afforded them. The 

 legal penalties and fines should be imposed whenever the laws are 

 broken. 



