UNIVERSITY OF CALITORNIA PUBLICATIONS 



ZOOLOGY 



Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 1-20 November 1, 1912 



BIRDS IN RELATION TO A GRASSHOPPER 

 OUTBREAK IN CALIFORNIA 



BY 



HAROLD C. BRYANT 



Professor Samuel Aughey, one of the pioneers in economic 

 ornithology, spent twelve years studying the relation of birds 

 to the periodic outbreaks of the Rocky Mountain locust in Ne- 

 braska. Over 630 individuals, representing ninety different 

 species of birds, were examined. The investigation showed that 

 "in locust years these insects became the chief food of insect- 

 eating birds, even water-birds devouring them largely." Prac- 

 tically every kind of bird from the tiny kinglet to the huge 

 pelican fed on the locusts to some extent. 



The determination of the relation of birds to a grasshopper 

 outbreak in California, where wddely different environmental 

 conditions exist, is of interest. It will be seen that the present 

 investigation substantiates the findings of Professor Aughey, and 

 demonstrates that here also birds feed on the insect most avail- 

 able, and are therefore important agents in helping to maintain 

 the balance in nature most suited to the interests of man. 



Economic ornithology has progressed to the point where in- 

 tensive studies are demanded. Each state with its varied en- 

 vironmental conditions should know the economic status of the 

 birds within its borders. California, under the auspices of the 

 State Fish and Game Commission and the University of Cali- 

 fornia, is carrying on an investigation into the food habits of 

 some of the birds of the State about which repeated complaints 

 have arisen from agriculturists and horticulturists. Field in- 

 vestigations in combination with examinations of the stomachs 



