WYOMING BIRDS 



This bulletin is the outcome of a survey conducted by the 

 Department of Zoology of the University of Wyoming for 

 the purpose of ascertaining whether the balance of fiature 

 has been disturbed as more and more of the territory of the 

 state has come under cultivation. It was thought that the 

 changing conditions in the state, including increased raising 

 of grain and planting of shade trees, would enable more 

 birds to find food and suitable nesting places than formerly. 

 The birds seemed as likely to be affected as any group of 

 animals and the extensive data collected at an earlier pe- 

 riod seemed to furnish a basis for comparison. 



Mr. Walker, who had had experience in collecting and 

 who is now in the government service, was employed to 

 assist with the work of the survey. He has spent two sum- 

 mers in the field collecting and has brought together all 

 available data from former collectors in the state. Letters 

 were also written to prominent citizens of Wyoming in 

 regard to the abundance of birds now as compared with ten 

 years ago. The results of the work of collectors and the 

 observations of citizens all indicate that many birds are on 

 the increase, especially those which live partly or wholly 

 upon seeds or insects and which are consequently of most 

 benefit to farmers in the control of insect pests and -weeds. 



Old residents of the state, and collectors whose experi- 

 ence extends over a period of several years, are almost uni- 

 versally of the opinion that certain birds are much more 

 abundant now than formerly. In their replies to circular 

 letters sent out, they have frequently specified the species 

 which have been affected in this way. It will readiy be 



