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i2AUAG£ BY BLACKBUtBS. 
Eloo growors In tM8 region almost viUiont exception made oomplaint 
of damage by blackbirds in tbo rice fields. Bet&ils of tbe more important 
« 
claims given by trustworthy individuals follow. 
Complaint of damage near Eagle Lake liad been made to the Biological 
Survey in a latter written by 0. J. Vintennsn, aaanager of the Lakeside Ir- 
rigation O 03 g>any. Ur. Wintenaan stated that the greatest destruction fron 
these birds came at the time when the rice was in the "milk” and from then 
on until the grains were fully foined. This period began at the end of 
duly and extoudod through August into the early part of the month of Sep- 
tember. Blaokbirds began to flock in this region during the closing days 
of duly and by the end of August were present in large bands, fhsse birds 
t 
had roosts in the reed beds of Eagle Lake that they resorted to at nig^t 
and from here they spraad out during the day in all directions to feed in 
the rice fields. Apparently most of the damage here was due to Bed-winged 
Blackbirds and (to a less extent) Great- tailed Qrackles. Hen were sta- 
tioned in the fields to drive the birds out by shooting but without much 
effect as the blaokbirds when alarmed would fly only a short distance before 
alighting again. Sbese birds oonttiaed to feed upon rice until it was flh- 
i^ly threshed. In wet years when it was necessary to leave the grain in 
St 
the field for some time because of inability to get it out, birds frequent- 
ly ate all of the rioe exposed, or even stripped some sheaves ooiq>letely. 
Some damage in addition was done by the Great-tailed Oraokles whan the rioe 
was sprouting in spring. These birds pulled the grain whm it was an inch 
or so hi{|^ and ate both the aprout and the kernel from which it had sprung. 
♦ 
It was said that blackbirds were present in abundance at plowing time. 
