The University of the State of New York 



New York State Museum 



John M. Clarke, Director 



Memoir 12 

 BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



BY 



ELON HOWARD EATON 



PART 2 



BIRD ECOLOGY 



It is evident that any comprehensive scheme for the protection of 

 bird Hfe, the increase of valuable species or the introduction of new ones, 

 must proceed on sound principles of bird ecology, or the relationship of 

 birds to their environment, and their ability to adapt themselves to new 

 conditions as they arise. It is not our purpose in this short chapter to 

 discuss the reaction to environment which resulted in the development 

 of the bird's wing and feathers or its numberless other structures which 

 fit the various species of birds for life in their chosen spheres, but rather 

 to consider those general principles of ecology which show the relationship 

 of our different species of birds, first, to their natural environment as it 

 existed in primeval times, and second, to the changed environment which 

 obtains throughout the greater portion of the State at the present day. 

 It is so often thought to be merely a question of the protection of birds 

 from boys, gunners, cats and hawks which is necessary to insure their 

 proper abundance that a consideration of the subject of ecology seems 



