Identifier: usefulbirdstheir00forb (find matches)
Title: Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Forbush, Edward Howe, 1858-1929 Massachusetts. State Board of Agriculture
Subjects: Birds Birds Zoology, Economic
Publisher: (Boston, Printed by Wright & Potter)
Contributing Library: Claire T. Carney Library, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Digitizing Sponsor: Claire T. Carney Library, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

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lusion that,in order to protect birds, he must sometimes destroy someof their natural enemies, even if amonof these he is oblisredto kill some birds. Hawks, Crows, Jays, and squirrels havebecome so accustomed to the persecutions of the gunnerthat they are able in a sense to persist in nearly normalnumbers in spite of him ; and when we eliminate shooting,they may increase, to the detriment of the species on whichthey prey. In a biograi)hical notice of the late Henry D.Minot the following appears : On the home grounds fromseventy-five to a hundred nests were built every spring, andthe broods therein successfully reared, for the birds werecarefully protected. Cats, Hawks, gray squirrels, Crows,Jays, and snakes were summarily dealt with; every note ofalarm was promptly answered with an efficient rescue, andall the spring and early summer the air was filled with themelody of happy birds. ^ The Land and Game Birds of New England, by Henry D. Minot. Secondedition, edited by William Brewster.
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PLATE LI. —Owl on Nest. This view, takt-ii later, shows-irowtli of youii:,and also feathers of Blue Jajs killed by Owl. (Photogi-aph, from life, byC. Allan Lyford.) THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 405 What a great number of young birds must have gone outinto the world from that i)lace. The policy pursued by Mr.Minot may serve as a model for the protection of a colonyof small birds, and, if followed faithfully elsewhere, it oughtto have the same gratifying results. Having undertaken aportion of the management of creation by introducing and cul-tivating strange plants and trees, and destroying the largerwild animals and the Eagles, Hawks, and Owls which for-merl) helped to keep Crows, Jays, snakes, squirrels, andother predatory creatures in check, we must not now shirkthe responsibility that rests upon us to protect the timid anddefenceless birds which we have left exposed to their increas-ing enemies. But, if we accept the burden of protectingbirds, we must exercise our power with w

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