12 
INTRODUCTION 
PROTECTION 
In food habits birds are eminently adaptable: seeds, plants, fruit, 
insects, flesh, or fish are all acceptable to various species and, consequently, 
nearly all regions have their quota of appropriate birds. A bird lives fast. 
Its heart beats more rapidly than that of other animals, the blood temper- 
ature is higher, and it consumes an enormous amount of energy in flight. 
This feverish heat and strenuous exertion require a correspondingly large 
amount of food; consequently the bird as an economic factor is to be 
regarded seriously. It has been estimated by some who question the 
economic value of birds that they can have no more than a 5 per cent 
influence upon the insect world; yet even with this minimum effect it is 
evident that the absence of a 5 per cent deterrent, compounded over the 
years, would probably have a most profound and disastrous effect against 
man in his battle with the insect hordes. The destruction of tons of weed 
seeds and millions of insects must necessarily have a great influence upon 
human welfare, and neglect of this fact must seriously react upon any 
community that fails to give proper protection to its birds. As one of the 
factors in the delicate balance of nature, birds should be respected. 
However, the problem of the status of individual species of birds is not 
the simple thing that it superficially appears to be. More than a cursory 
examination is necessary, and many things must be considered in order to 
arrive at the truth. Sometimes birds work in harmony with human welfare 
and sometimes against it. They may be directly beneficial at one season 
and harmful at another, or their indirect influence may alter the sum of 
their direct effects in a most surprising manner. 
General impressions, then, as to whether a bird is beneficial or harmful 
require careful checking. Mere casual observation in life is never sufficient 
to determine even its food supply. Modern practice bases such conclusions 
almost entirely upon the examination of the stomach contents of wild 
birds taken throughout the year, which is the only evidence that is not 
subject to question. The United States Biological Survey and others have 
examined and passed upon thousands of bird stomachs and the results of 
their researches are available to those who care to study and use them. 
There are certain birds which from their size, habits, and general food 
value are regarded as legitimate game. The pursuit of these is invigor- 
ating sport, tends to the healthful welfare of the sportsman, and teaches 
woodcraft, hardihood, out-of-door adaptability, and marksmanship. The 
true sportsman has a code of ethics of his own founded upon economic as 
well as humanitarian principles. He shoots nothing without giving it a 
fair chance and little that cannot be used as food. He is also careful not 
to deplete the game upon which his future sport depends. True sports- 
manship, however, has not been universal, and its too common absence 
has resulted in a gradual but steady depletion of our game. Restrictive 
measures have been enacted, but have usually followed rather than pre- 
ceded the need for them. The regulations that are enacted today should 
have been adopted yesterday and the consequence is that, over much of 
the country, game is a thing of the past. 
This has been especially true in the east; the west is younger and its 
wild-life resources have not yet been so depleted, conservation sentiment 
has developed, and it rests with the people whether they will follow in the 
footsteps of an older and more wasteful generation or see that their patri- 
