. Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 9. Game protection; Birds. 22 be exterminated without endangering our native l)irds, we wdl l^enefit l)y it. Pehaps, however, the status of this introduced species will chan<^e. The Starlinj^r is relenlless in stealing and occupyinj,^ nesting sites which should be the i)roperty of our native birds. Particularly are the species which nest in cavities molested. 1 once saw a pair of Starlings drive I'Mickers from their recently drilled nest, by carrying straws in so fast that ihe hMickers were ai)parently be- wildered and left. Were the Starling re
. Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 9. Game protection; Birds. 22 be exterminated without endangering our native l)irds, we wdl l^enefit l)y it. Pehaps, however, the status of this introduced species will chan<^e. The Starlinj^r is relenlless in stealing and occupyinj,^ nesting sites which should be the i)roperty of our native birds. Particularly are the species which nest in cavities molested. 1 once saw a pair of Starlings drive I'Mickers from their recently drilled nest, by carrying straws in so fast that ihe hMickers were ai)parently be- wildered and left. Were the Starling removed our native bird pojiulation would benefit thereby. The Starlings are. it must be admitted, beautiful and interesting birds, but they have not yet proved themselves worthy of i)rotection in Pennsylvania. The Jironzed (hackle, Red-headed Woodpecker, and even the House Wren may be accused of some damage to eggs or young of other desirable birds. Grackles develop individualistic egg-eating habits which are culpable. House Wrens sometimes puncture the eggs of their feathered neighbors in a i)urely malicious way!* liut viewed from the stand])oint of the smaller l)irds of our Slate one of the most serious enemies is the Cowbird. As is well known, this bird makes no nest. When the female Cowbird has found the nest of a smaller bird where she intends to lay her own eggs, she may remove one or two or all the eggs of the owner before deposit- in'*- her own. Nor is this the whole story. ICven if she docs not remove the other eggs, the young C'ow])ird after hatching is so much larger that he is likely to crowd the rightful owners out of the nest, or cause their starvation by claiming all the food. If the Cowl)ird were especially beautiful or beneficial we might overlook this habit, but as it is, he seems to be only a means of reducing the numbers of other birds more desirable than himself. Neverthe- less it must be admitted that the i)resence of the Cowbird has not noticeably affected
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1911
