File:The economic value of birds to the state (1903) (14568783548).jpg

Identifier: economicvalueofb00chap (find matches)
Title: The economic value of birds to the state
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Chapman, Frank M. (Frank Michler), 1864-1945 New York (State). Forest, Fish and Game Commission
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Albany, J.B. Lyon Company, Printers
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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in view of the large consump-tion of grasshoppers and caterpillars, we can at least condone this defence, if such itmay be called. The destruction of grasshoppers is very noticeable in the months ofAugust and September, when these insects form more than 60 per cent of the diet. It is evident that in the selection of its food the Bluebird is governed by abun-dance rather than by choice. Predaceous beetles are eaten in spring, as they areamong the first insects to appear; but in early summer caterpillars form an impor-tant part of the diet, and are replaced a little later by grasshoppers. Beetles areeaten at all times, except.when grasshoppers are more easily obtained. So far as its vegetable food is concerned, the Bluebird is positively harmless.The only trace of any useful product in the stomachs consisted of a few blackberryseeds, and even these more probably belonged to wild than cultivated varieties.Following is a list of the various seeds which were found : Blackberry, chokeberry,
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Upper figure, WOOD THRUSHLower figure, HERMIT THRUSH ABOUT %3 NATURAL SIZE. ECONOMIC VALUE OK BIRDS TO THE STATE. 63 juniperberry, pokeberry, partridge berry, greenbrier, Virginia creeper, bittersweet,holly-strawberry bush, false spikenard, wild sarsaparilla, sumac (several species), rosehaws, sorrel, ragweed, grass, and asparagus. This list shows how little the Bluebirddepends upon the farm or garden to supply its needs, and indicates that byencouraging the growth of some of these plants, many of which are highly orna-mental, the bird can be i lduced to make its home on the premises. (Beal.) A List of tl)e Aore Important Papers Relating to tl)e Poodof American R.irds. 1859. Jenks, J. W. P., Trans. Mass. Hort. Soc. 1859. Treadwell, D., (Food of Young Robins.) Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., VI, PP- 396399- 1878. Aughey, Samuel, Notes on the Nature of the Food of the Birds ofNebraska. 1880. Forbes, S. A., The Food of Birds. Bull. 3, Ills. State Laboratory of Nat.Hist., pp. 80-149. Trans.

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