. Annual report of the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University and the Agricultural Experiment Station. New York State College of Agriculture; Cornell University. Agricultural Experiment Station; Agriculture -- New York (State). 966 Rural School Leaflet. NATURE-STUDY SYLLABUS THE FOOD OF BIRDS Arthur A. Allen The various phases of bird study are many and diverting: the mysterious migrations, the bright plumages, the charming songs, the nests and eggs. It is seldom we succeed in tearing our- selves away from these and concen- trating our thoughts on the more ser- ious consid
. Annual report of the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University and the Agricultural Experiment Station. New York State College of Agriculture; Cornell University. Agricultural Experiment Station; Agriculture -- New York (State). 966 Rural School Leaflet. NATURE-STUDY SYLLABUS THE FOOD OF BIRDS Arthur A. Allen The various phases of bird study are many and diverting: the mysterious migrations, the bright plumages, the charming songs, the nests and eggs. It is seldom we succeed in tearing our- selves away from these and concen- trating our thoughts on the more ser- ious consideration of the bird's place in nature and the economy of bird life. When we do come to a reahzation of the valuable part the birds play in our own lives, we are inspired to even greater interest to learn all we can about them, to care for them, and to protect them. So immediate are their services, even so near to our purse strings, that we wonder how a true realization of their value could have been so long overlooked. It seems impossible that but a few years ago, a great many of our most beneficial birds were actually considered enemies to our agricultural interests and a bounty was placed upon their heads. Such was the price of ignorance. Thousands of valuable birds were killed before the harm that was being done was realized. And then it was too late! Scourges of insects and rodents swept over the country causing losses of millions of dollars. Let us consider for a moment the position allowed the birds in this country. Before its discovery and settlement and civilization by the white man, when nature was allowed to take her own course and settle her own difficulties, insect plagues of any kind were probably of very rare occurrence. The insects which to-day in countless hordes annually damage the crops to the extent of millions of dollars were kept down to normal numbers by their natural enemies, chief among which were the birds. If at any place there was an undue increase of
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