8 BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA AFFECTING FRUIT INDUSTRY. 



grown. In fact, in California the eating of oats can not as a rule be 

 counted against a bird. 



In no State in the Union is an accurate knowledge of the relations 

 of birds to agriculture more important than in California. Climate 

 and soil combine to make California an important grain and fruit pro- 

 ducing State. The acreage already devoted to agriculture is large and 

 is likely to increase for decades to come, as population increases and 

 as new cultural methods are developed and irrigation is extended. 

 Insects that now attract little attention are likely to increase and 

 become serious pests. Certain birds formerly accustomed to a diet 

 consisting partly of wild fruits, the supply of which is limited and 

 likely to become smaller, will probably invade orchards and injure 

 cultivated fruit. Hence it is worth while for the farmer and orchard- 

 ist to learn as much as possible of the food of the birds that harbor 

 near his premises, that he may know how much good each species 

 does and how much harm, and so be enabled to strike a fair balance. 



Some birds, like the swallows, swifts, wrens, and chickadees, are 

 so strictly insectivorous that they are exceedingly beneficial. All 

 they require at the hands of man in return for their services is pro- 

 tection. Others at some time of the year injure crops, though the 

 damage by many is exceedingly small. Be the loss what it may, 

 however, if a given species by its insectivorous habits prevents much 

 greater destruction than it inflicts, the farmer should be willing to 

 bear the loss for the sake of the greater gain. 



Few birds are always and everywhere so seriously destructive that 

 their extermination can be urged on sound economic principles. 

 Only four of the species common in California can be regarded as of 

 doubtful utility: These are the linnet, California jay, Steller jay, and 

 redbreasted sapsucker. When the known methods of protecting 

 fruit have been exhausted, or can not be employed profitably, then 

 a reasonable reduction of the numbers of the offending birds is per- 

 missible. But the more the food habits of birds are studied the 

 more evident is the fact that with a normal distribution of species 

 and a fair supply of natural food, the damage to agricultural products 

 by birds is small compared with the benefit. 



A reasonable way of viewing the relation of birds to the farmer is 

 to consider birds as servants, employed to destroy weeds and insects. 

 In return for this service they should be protected, and such as need 

 it should receive a fair equivalent in the shape of fruit and small 

 grain. Nothing can be more certain than that, except in a few cases, 

 any farmer who is willing to pay the toll collected by birds for actual 

 services rendered will be vastly benefited. In the long run, no part 

 of the capital invested in farm or orchard is more certain to pay big 

 interest than the small sum required for the care and protection of 

 birds. 



