Our Great Heritage-Birds and Forests

Forest and Bird, Issue 9, 1 June 1925, Page 1

Our Great Heritage-Birds and Forests

It is incumbent upon all the people of New Zealand to show active interest in their heritage —our forests and birds. If the people wickedly and apathetically allow this priceless heritage to be destroyed', then ivill we richly deserve what we will get —an almost birdless insect-ridden, devastated and eroded land. No good citizen can afford to stand idly by.

Bulletin No. 9

WHAT AMERICANS SAY ABOUT BIRDS.

PLANTING FOR THE BIRDS. No other group of animals commands such widespread and universal attention as birds; everyone is more or less interested in them. Why is this so ? In the first place, with the exception of insects, birds are the most common form of animal life about us. Approximately 600,000 species of animals are known to science. Some thing like 18,000 kinds of birds alone are found in the world; about 1,200 different kinds are recorded from North America and of these approximately 350 occur in lowa. Not only is the number of species large, but also the number of individauls is considerable. Competent authorities estimate that there are in the United States 3,800,000,000 nesting birds of all kinds and that, in addition, 3,800,000,000 more birds pass through the United States in their migratory journey. Such an abundance of an active, graceful, beautiful and interesting type of animal life, many forms of which are further attractive to us by reason of their vocal ability, can not be easily overlooked.

Moreover, birds offer unusual opportunities for cultivating the powers of observation as well as for purposes of study and recreation. In addition, they are desirable about our homes and on our farms for the economic benefits which they confer. They are man’s only natural allies in the continuous warfare which he must wage against injurious weeds, mammals and above all, insects.

One of the results of the nation-wide movement for the protection of birds has been the acquisition of better and more complete knowledge of their habits, peculiarities and requirements by an ever-increasing mass of people. Those who have had the conservation of our native birds most at

heart have been attempting to produce a sympathetic and understanding citizenship by declaring conservation a duty. That stage is now past, and conservation of our feathered allies is coming more and more to be recognised as a necessity.

A great amount of personal effort is still necessary to accomplish the ends of conservation, but such exceedingly practical methods as attracting birds with food, water, nesting-places, refuges and the like are well directed and timely endeavours to bring about the desired results.

The old idea that only three or four of our birds, the house wren, the bluebird, and the purple martin, commonly grouped as “house birds,” could be induced to remain in the vicinity of human habitations has been dispelled. It has been shown that if suitable nesting and feeding conditions are offered, many other species will avail themselves of even the slightest encouragement.

Actual counts of the breeding birds in definitely selected areas which represent as nearly as possible typical conditions have been made in varions parts of the United States. Such bird censuses, as they are called, show that the average population is two birds per acre. The United States Biological Survey, estimating the value of each bird in the land at 10 cents, maintains that “the birds of the United States prevent an increase in the annual damage done by insects of more than $400,000,000. This is a considerable item when it is recalled that forestry and agriculture alone suffer an annual loss through insect damage of one billion dollars. Of all the methods devised for attracting birds none is better than that of furnishing an adequate supply of suitable vegetation. One way to combat the state of affairs that has arisen is to plant grasses and berry- or seed-bearing trees, shrubs and vines. These should not be selected at random but with certain objects in view. Some of these objects are: to afford protection and shelter to birds; to afford suitable nesting sites for birds; to supplement the food supply of birds; to serve as decoys and thus protect the cultivated fruits from birds; and to combine the further useful function of furnishing windbreaks and ornamentation about homes, farms, and roadsides.

Granting, then, that planting for the birds is a commendable thing to do, let us inquire more specifically as to what we shall plant. The following are primary requisites

to bear in mind in choosing plants and in arranging them: 1. Select the kinds of trees and shrubs that are suitable for the locality in which they are to be grown. Native ones are usually much better than unique importations for they are more likely to succeed. 2. Select the kinds of trees, shrubs, etc., that are ornamental as well as fruitful. Utility, beauty and variety can be happily combined if a reasonable amount of judicious discrimination is exercised so that there need be no season without its fruit. 3. Select, if possible, a variety of trees, shrubs, etc., so that a continuous and diversified diet may be available to the birds. Many desirable plants possess highly coloured fruits which are always attractive to birds. Plants which retain berries, seeds or fruits for a considerable time after they have matured or throughout the winter have many advantages, to an otherwise plain and drab landscape.

4. Do not arrange the selected plants too formally or exactly; and do not clip or trim them too precisely. Strive to represent natural conditions and to eliminate artificial appearances; too often our arrangement is highly unreal, and the effort that has been made is altogether too apparent. You cannot fool the birds!

Vines. —These serve well the combined purpose of attracting birds and of ornamentation. Furthermore, vines assist materially in furnishing highly desirable nesting sites if a number of small trees or shrubs are allowed to become overgrown with them to form a thick tangle. Vine-covered hedges and fences are attractive to both man and birds.

A favourite food of waterfowl is wild rice and wild celery; both can be planted to good advantage in the lakes and ponds of public and semi-pnblic places.

Finally, we may inquire where these ideas may be put into practice. One need not have an extensive estate and caretaker in order to make his contribution. The following places are suggestive: the farm or some part of it, the roadside running by it, the right-of-way of the near-by railroad, the town park, the fair or chatauqua grounds, school grounds, picnic grounds, cemeteries—your own back or front yard. Even small contributions in the way of adadditional vegetation will most surely result in an increased number of birds and will prove a substantial factor in their welfare.

A short time ago the National Association of Audubon Societies received as a gift from a cousin of the Late Presi-

dent Roosevelt an 111 acre tract of land near Oyster Bay as a bird sanctuary. The announcement concerning the transfer of this land states that although there are already many trees and thickets growing thereon, the Association will put a cat-proof iron fence around the property and will set out trees and shrubs that provide the best food for birds. The area is to be called the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary. Surely, this is a step in the right direction. —University of lowa Service Bulletin.