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J Department of Ornithology 
Under the Direction of the Committees on Bird Preservation and Propagation. 
National Association of Gardeners, L. H. Jensen, St. Louis, Mo., Chairman. 
American Association of Park Superintendents, Hermann Merkel, New York, Chairman. 
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PUBLIC PARKS AS BIRD SANCTUARIES. 
By Paul B. Riss, Illinois. 
THE conversion of all cemeteries of the country into 
sanctuaries for birds is the aim of a campaign an- 
nounced by the National Audubon Societies. This 
association urges tbe seclusion of hunters and cats from 
cemeteries, so that birds may be protected and thus make 
cemeteries habitable for birds. There are mere than a 
million acres of land in the United States used for burial 
grounds and the association is aiming to add these to the 
bird reservations. 
The proposition appears entirely feasible and would 
spread a network of sanctuaries all over the country, as 
no town or village, however small, does not have at least 
one burying ground. However, we question the possibil- 
ity of interesting the many individuals in charge in this 
particular work. A village may have more than one and 
a city surely has several cemeteries all presided over by 
different officials. The work, in interesting each and every 
one, therefore, becomes difficult ; especially when we take 
into account the total indifference of the individuals to- 
ward bird protection. 
It seems that the National Audubon Society would find 
a more fertile field among the superintendents of parks of 
this country. While parks are not maintained in every 
village, yet the parks in most cities are in charge of only 
one official, which would simplify the work of enlisting as 
much if not more territory for bird sanctuaries than is 
controlled by the several cemeteries. The park superin- 
tendent, too, is a horticulturist, who fully understands the 
economic value of birds ; knows what they are doing for 
him personally. He is aware of the fact that the birds are 
helping him to rid his plants, shrubs and trees of insects, 
larvae, beetles and caterpillars. 
The parks, also, are generally scattered over the entire 
city, and thus the park superintendent is able to reach all 
classes of people in his role as a bird protector. The 
parks, too, are visited more regularly and by more people 
a greater part of the year than are the cemeteries, where 
people go with the exact purpose of spending a quiet half 
hour on the graves of the departed. The reverse takes 
place in the parks, where people visit for pleasure and en- 
joyment. People, who otherwise are too busy, stop to 
admire this tree or yonder shrub and the plants in turn 
are closely inspected as some of them might serve a simi- 
lar purpose in the home garden. Everything is closely 
scrutinized. The bird boxes, feeding stations, bird-baths 
also draw their share of attention and so let the desire 
manifest itself to put out similar devices. Thus the park 
superintendent is in better position to give this work ex- 
pression than any other individual ; his audience is con- 
stant and observing and made up from all walks of life. 
Here in Rockford our two large parks are frequently se- 
lected for bird walks, because bird life is more abundant 
and varied than elsewhere on account of the protection 
accorded the birds. 
When the eastern delegation of park superintendents 
stopped off in Chicago on their way to San Francisco last 
August we all enjoyed a delightful luncheon at Lincoln 
Park, Chicago. The various tempting dishes have long 
since been forgotten, but not the frequent visits of a male 
yellow warbler which apparently had found the lagoon, 
shrubs and trees perfectly satisfactory and deported itself 
with the natural abandon of safety. Here this bird found 
a congenial range, within earshot of a very busy thor- 
oughfare. The list of birds seen in South Park, where 
birds are systematically protected, and which was pub- 
lished in an earlier issue of this paper, is well calculated 
to arouse the envy of bird lovers who live in even more 
favored localities with natural streams and forests but 
no protection. 
There are many park superintendents with splendid op- 
portunities to further bird protection, who are but mildly 
interested in birds and have not yet learned of their value 
to man. The exact economic status of all birds varies 
with conditions, but the following statistics compiled by 
authorities, while well known and much quoted, may stim- 
ulate a greater interest in the student and be a revelation 
to him as well. The annual loss in crops in the United 
States caused by insect pests amounts to a billion dollars, 
or $10 yearly per capita. The chinch bug ruins about 
twenty millions' worth of wheat, the cotton boll weavel 
reduces the cotton crop twenty millions, the codling moth 
and curculio takes care of another twelve million, while 
eighty millions are spent annually in spraying for other 
pests. When the Mormons first settled in Utah, their 
wheat crop was entirely ruined by hordes of black 
crickets. The second crop was doomed by the same 
scourge', when there appeared from all directions great 
flocks of Franklin gulls, which devoured every last cricket 
and saved the wheat. The Mormons ever since have pro- 
tected the gulls and recently erected a monument to com- 
memorate their timely help. 
Prof. F. E. L. Beal estimated that the tree sparrows in 
the State of Towa, ate 875 tons of weed seed during the 
winter, allowing but one-fourth of an ounce of seed per 
individual bird daily. 
Mrs. Margareth Morse Nice records the following as 
eaten bv one captive quail in a single meal : 100 chinch 
'nigs. 12 squash bugs, 2.32f> plant lice, 12 cut-worms, 39 
grasshoppers, 12 army worms. 568 mosquitoes, 101 potato 
beetles and 8 white grubs. The sum total of weed seeds 
eaten by one bird during a single meal varied from 105 
seeds of stinkweed and 400 seeds of pigweed to 5,000 of 
pigeon grass and 10,000 of lambs quarter, while the num- 
ber taken by a single bird in one day varies from 600 
burdocks to 30,000 of rabbits foot clover. 
Dr. Sylvester Judd estimates that the Bob Whites of 
Virginia and North Carolina consume annually from Sep- 
tember 1 to April 30, 1,341 tons of weed seed and from 
June 1 to April 31. 340 tons of insects. 
Prof. King of Wisconsin found 4,016 seeds of pigeon 
grass in the stomach of one mourning dove and 7,500 
oxalis seeds in another. 
Woodpeckers are estimated as being worth $20 apiece 
annually to the owner of woods, orchards or shade trees. 
There are many other birds equally useful. They all fill 
their places uncomplainingly in spite of the great handi- 
cap placed upon them by the hand of man. Statistics 
equally interesting can be furnished for all of them, 
thanks to the untiring efforts of the government and bird 
lovers. 
The great problem is how to. extend the field of labor, 
in further educating the public in a practical way through 
the establishment of bird sanctuaries within easy reach of 
every home. The park superintendent is the logical man 
to do all this for his fellow man, and in the meantime de- 
riving great enjoyment personally from his efforts. 
134 
