HUNDRED MILLION BIRDS.

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 33, 2 November 1933, Page 2

HUNDRED MILLION BIRDS.

Many attempts have been made to estimate the British bird population. The true figures cannot be known, but it is between 50 and 100 millions, and in all probability very near rhe larger figure. There are certainly more birds than people. The families of these birds must reach enormous dimensions, for it <-aunot be less than six times as great as t.ie actual population. That is because tar "more birds are reared than live to become adults. This point is of great importance in judging the value of "birds as insect exterminators. Tn rearing their families most birds feed them on insects, and their appetites are voracious. A single pair of birds will make hundreds of journeys in a single day to procure insects for their young. It is probable. therefore, that Britain’s bird population rids the country of insects each year by millions of millions I The rapid growth of young -birds in the nest, which is so miraculous, is due to the fact that .a nestling will consume its own weight in food in a single day.