[ Mm 8 | ——— OO _—=Tre) ——=® wna LIBRARY Michigan State University MSU RETURNING MATERIALS: Place in book drop to LIBRARIES remove this checkout from Ta. your record. FINES will] be charged if book is returned after the date . Stamped below. »” ag Oey fio em pe WIV. ZS5.1994 .*% 8a The heonomie Value of ellicd Nuthaten and Rlack-carped Chnickadvc, The Wnhite-o -o00- / ° « o~ +. Hh Dwient Sandorson, i owe mienigan Agricultural Coliese, June 1897, THESIS THE EcQuo rc VALUE OF TEE WHITE-BELLIED NUTHATCH ALD BLACL-~CAPpPpED CHICKADEE . -oCo- The value of our common birds es insuct-destroyers has of late years come to be recognized as an important field of investigation for the ornithologist and a laree item in rural economy, Much valuable work has been done in deternining their economic relations, but there has als, been a large a.ount cf assumption by various writers basi:d on insuffic- tent deta, It is my purpose in this thests to deterniine the character and amount of food and the economic felations of two of our most common residents, the White-bellied Nuthatch (Sitva Garolinecnsis, Lath, ) and the Black-ca:ved Chickadee (Parus atriccrrilis, Linn.,), from the analy- sis cf the stomachs cf 34 srecinuens cf the former, and ce of the latter, notes taken while colicetingeg then, anc Pri es nuch reliesle data as could Ze found elsevnere, 2-Ctrod of Analysis, th ho lustenee wes any Doce Pound in the truc stomach, uoutn, or 4 yan ‘. -- - . AeA 7 an a ~ ees ~ 3 ~ ‘ - -f ~™ os . - 4. 4. . 4. _ «° NS gee “ - 4 La mid C Le ’ Ch Ce. we. Cc Coa’ S ert C eta eee - YT. . 118} 4. ood we. gS YY : a ld toa Cla dd rily Cal J. ed us .C 2 = -~.. -~ noe _ — - Jj.- -. 3 ” a . "= =~ = 7 “ . : - SJ er rey on an mn 1 qa ’ -o ‘ “Noe o . \ * y xyLoON ad . VN oe Soro, . os ae -F ete oy, - moe e a. 7. EF Md. 4 Pee hod we RD a. GLb reyic ‘e a cc o.4 wy be Clos ett ot ws rr a, . 2 © pl ON C.. eau an Faia f e 74 d. . . ee] a ~- — - . 2 re . = » . oC oo . e : ce ~ x S74 % _ o7F CV My Ae. A r yuo . sy ° nd A 7s ra 1 wen a7 re - 4 c Kte-y oe e.a C L toc a. mo . Soy’ { C a2 &. ( Setig ae aa boom gk €. ge bes Ow dae, wiCcron- » - . 2 an) - : : " c merry t ) +4. yyy - a aa 2 . 2 ; SCOT. “see FOP Cel yw Cf y .. ea CC yg la b TL mola Va Cle ant “ - y¢t0 4 any oc: , 7 oF met ye so . . ° - ct oo om wrwan _— - ao aati € AS Loo A 4 e . 4a .\ ( ~ aw. oe bo de hk CCN 1. ( aalhrae nrg Cree Cer £ le. . : “1 Dee . 1 co ; ~ s 6 ’ ‘ wee ~ 7 -4 jg fant ,* oO € ead . ( a Su Aly T 4 ‘ ( : wie ‘ a \ \ ¢ , C. {" we 4 me CLV a 4G. Liar = 403492 (& ) crjdy ite ueet general neture eculc Le eeeccrtiirce, ere Lenee, & etcnach w & ~ a ~ ° ~ , oq owe . ~—Xy~ . ax 5 - . ~ ce c - - 4. r . - 7 - -y i. mayan te cften tabled es conteinineg only che ire.ct ch ¢ ccrtein creer wren 7 ~ Nore a~ a 5 OS 37. , - wed . . oon oan gy: * 73 er . 2 TA AS wt Ot +5 «9 4+ 4 *- pan at ~ it Cevktlccse contained te Terus «fo urry perce, vriehn vere itcistinguish LI ae YU Vertqet ebetoe fot At ete te oer yet ya sn tar fo ngat orle e PY cL e-' ei: ei (*?3 Wee, ES lo ef - wd cS ‘ Fok (oc. ee er ' ‘ Co& be owe Cee Ve & 4 u s -_ Adie CW CMslV San o- MIM NAN ” wr SN oF - 47 7 7 AAT OE Fe - - ~ e oe ee - c the ~f.lwe nel O2 Frc LLEe Low tow on c.f C8 be Ot Coe LE }-J- " ae 2g Pon -- . 2M Cue. flee aie not > individually recognizable, such work vould escaye observation, The con- > tents were tnen placed in ynicls helcins & 1/z cucie centimeters in 70%. d aleconcl, The aventity of tre eteweci. convents wos Gcteriined ty a linear a ~. ~ i *. - - . °°. fA. 7 . <7 aA 4, - A - ” eon .o* ~-*. 2 ~ a 2 yan 8,44 may . . ij . y of 3 ea x . . o ,™ 7 i Cc ’ \ s o Te oo Oo af wwe =” 4 aes Tic aS a (og hoc os QO: Tt d (_ d ae 1 é A - wet Ld. ( — v J : i? a..’.- wu K ~ wa © ad. “how iw aats . eon ee Ge wo Creo Ss. -O ¥. ef abe /, y YN aN =~ We ey Tage 1 iv co 1 mm Il T P7495 ye Me Ae Te, mya a TV fay s wort ss 4 ova ed Ces ale. oo Kee). CL Te RLS T cou f Ae, wd CO Clee a Sb fe ay 6s Cee Li.aecvers / a « - -. - - we ob oo. ~ - mos - ~ oy . . ~ : -~ #4. | - nr - 7 wy oeet “y° 7 NY + mats ae 4 a4 . id Pl se yA 740 “oy 444 ms YY Chey, fe rien eet 2 Ore elle. Cpe | gO Ee CVE nde Corse let ey. Yee Lu c.5 : = - ' of. a |. ros ’ eos . te tk 7 ave - ors ww - yee = “ - om . ’ =a . co: - y +. - . , ~ o s bad . Trove kiticl: Cetra a tly Ce gee ar’ a aioe wae ull Cor oak. bata Ul L€ ve 4 a = ay > a” an 7 90m “4 7 A * i) ° ~ ¢- ° - “ y > —™ d to 9 vo as = ev oa e A 4 -.% v- t -« * e e e t 8 9 ‘ ~ ‘ ~ a ~ 4 4 [ =A - ~ aur yes ~» ~ ) - ~ “7 | ’ os Moon 8 ( \ - 4 q i ‘ coe _ e-3 ai ‘ 4 «2 { 4 \ . a s 4 J Jie x } ¢ ~ ( ¢ 7 9 ‘ e 3) e ’ =~ —~ y ~ ” y -” —~e nae - 1 ea 4 ‘ an » e ‘ ~~ a m i. 4 eo wy . aa Pe OVO - ~ 4 ~ ana: , Yao - . -eaye - ‘ - ,? 3 i C. - o ~ » é { o - ‘ ( ( N “ \ \ s t t ( ( o- ¢ ( ‘ . qed ( ¢ i. ~ ~ _ lee a a 7% - ° - . a ~ c - 7” . 4 i tology ~ A - . ’ 4 a ' 4 { e The svecinens were all coliected within a radius of rive miles from the college. Record was kept of the sex, but no difference in the fecd- ing habits was noticed, althousn most of the Nuthatencs were secured in ryailrs, Notes upon the weatner vere also ke;yt, but sw cimens were secured under all conditions,- both during a bright Fevruary thaw and a March snow-storm, aud exce;t as caused by the ground being covered with snow, no difference could be seen, save as noted between different periods, Neither did the time of day seem to cause anv variation, (3) White-bvellied Nuthatch (Sitta Carolinoensis, Lath.). Table I exnibits the results of the exaiaination of 34 stomachs. The first 23 were collected during ground much of the time; while spring, before the foliare was in g the difference in feeding to secure specimens during the tne winter deason, snow covering the tne last 11 were secured during the out, Hence, I have made two totals, show- nabits vetween the secasons. (I had wished early sun.er for further comparison along this line, but as the birds were becoming very searee near tne college and little time was available for the work, I was unable to do so, Such a series would douvtless the tor are those of the is indicated by the naiie give some inieresting data), The numbers across stcmacns as secured, Under each number the food orp’ osite at tie left, The amount of contents in cubic ec. ntimeters is given at the bottom, together with a dlarrai. show- ing the relative asounts of the different kinds of food, Fach line is the same length as the food was in that bettie (Sve above); that portion in red ink represents animal wetter; tnat in -_lack, seeds; and the white space ctetwceen, if any, is gravel. The date of coliicction is also given, Sr less aceurately identi- ™, uc? C e G Hy @2) A list cf those insects whien could fied is given, from whien can ce ceterwined the relative nuuber of noxious anc teneficial forums, Vesetavle Food, Misle has alveys veo. stated tnat Nuthatenes feed as 2 ? ‘ c+ to 8 2 cv as) ©) — © on the hkurnels of nuts which they LUr.eak oren, I was fortunste enougn to secure cic 6. ceimen while "“hetebinge" an acorn, woioh was aene at the evex, ana secured the rrvit. (4 ) wormy. Careful analysis of the vegetable peiter found in the stoiuachs,- even bv inicroscoyical sections- Pailed to reveal a trace of anv acorn meat, and furthermore it would Sseou wunat 1f tiat vas dusired, a sound srecthen woule bave boom celeewed by t+ @ bird, In viev cf these consid- ereaticns, Toca lec to Lelleve woeu coe inties- sien as acorns ad eoescnin nuts- cre sown. merely Per tie cos lg vwpieh ther econ. (Se. noves S (11 Tielie ears mos yy During the winter the lareer rortion ow the Bood vas composed of eeds, which gradually decreased as insect life becaue more avundant, Those detcriuined were; %cea mays in 12 stomachs, Awprosia artewesifolia in 8, and 2 Helianthus syp?, Mmerous other seeds were so badly broken as to be undeteriinable, Ali were digested, and none, Whetner of noxious or beneficial ,lcnts, were consiwmed in quantities of any economic importance, Insect Food, A remarkable inerease in tre rer cent of insect food is seen in the second series over the first, it forming 79.585 in the spring, while only 25.7% during the winter, Sceds, on the other hand, were just the reverss forming 67 4°, aquring the winter and only 13.563 in tne syring. The pro- portion of gravel remained comparatively sonstant at 6.2%) and 7%, as did also the amount of food at an average of ,.8 c.c. and .84 c.c. for the respective yeriods, It will be noticed that in the latter serives all the insects were adult, while in the former almost one-third were ess or larvae, Hemiptera, largely Piesma cincria, were the most important insects ~-~ CT a in the first series; with Coleoptera next, These two orders madue up the bulk of insect food during this period with the exception of a single Some 26 ihrnleicee, Mirings the secong weriod, a. 4 oy) stomech willech contatiz« ~~ = *- 5 quer . s . = \ . 5 ~ -_ 4 ~ea aa- . ‘ a | “a 1. a ne * 4 * e Hyvineioy tera were fowld in colusi@orauie mepworc, cil beings veneficial, ere with avout caval vrarts cf Porlicce and Goleo tera constituted the erocter vert oP tre insect Pord, motile Llatooer rorice there sen. to ce a terdoneyv to tate larger insects, ce evicerced ty seviral gocc sizec wetrs, which of course would 4 . ~ =? 7. - py + > 3 ’ ” . e : ., . am ane, my > a f° . ms on a, 7. bye Mmvuncecr cP inciviauéls, Thounh tire wonecr of the insect fTorns 4 6350 Te ee 4A fy . ‘ ~seee, ° san” A i 4 a * 4 ~ ds - ecter Ly tre Nuticatenes is ecraearatively sisoils to thet of these craton - * - - =o: 4 . 4. « -_ = ~ mee * . ’ : s . moe aM, we 7y “~. & . ~ al a 4 . a - 4 by the Chichkacecs, ver it fe ne cout t one ee Peet thet their inscet ~a : a . \ ee 22 - 7.2 wey 4 a . . 37. (aon ~ uw a3. 8 . . 9, ~ S48 2 force fie ware’ were roypicly Ccleectec wy te cic cf the gerevel, tren in tho Chickaceuc&y Trier cave nere, Almost o well Known injuricus insects vere found, the most conmon noxlous formu veing Piesima cineria, wiilen never acoes any consiceravie injury. As wentioned, one stouach contained 2° Myrmica sp? which may be considered noxious, On the other hand, a large number cf beneficial forns, slicni as, Rraconids, Reduvlics, anc Caravids vove found, and many that mov be concsicerea neutral es Porlidce- mc even tnese mieht be “ valueble in the lérvel stem Tor Pisth Pood, cy rA consléerce a4 * : 2 ‘ . - - 9. 7 ~~: -, ‘ LN , « . 7 - «* . a) Thus it is ceen thei tre tosect Feee jie tin wt ievo es rs a) C 7 f-- -? an) o t Jj 0 am 4 “ evdrmirately enc thet tre vepePieiai Corie Syily cee. wpscee More or less e . - 7. 94 a? . oo .. * 7 . . ee Lo. s . . de .. . a = as q-- a é s A q°y + Aa ~*~ > - . 5 if ou ree ~ c. av “ « : . ™ in ae - ‘Le “Sy veo a blo ous Qt C Vere BPeMe weve oes ls a rn beenoeiloy i UE & » pte mn. \ "fem og “NT i en, - a - -a a yore a ae ayn : coe te mt ey ial oad, too dk fot € Lae ~ oaew Gow ow Gr. .% whe CL ak - ee to dea eg -- ob toma he aoe ed Cua i Lh, al find half a dozen tosether on a river bank, whieh doubtless vere several pairs, The timber in this neisv? borhosd consists of small lots of a Lew across and eacn of these will ordinavily oe oeevried “vy onlv one vair of Muthatencus, They luverieviv Peocd op on rove berkec teers; hoilf ef iv sreelpents Veils teahen on eins, wits Gl.ost eave.) yeris cP tie iadgority Of To pronwsineéer on csh cre cel, Three sie olind.s were coer ree in cn old are do crema ve auite Cigvent fic. gay cveilivge, o.c ne others wore found AYOULE Vly lt wrees, peocebeay © ee eve ot Ve eso becnie prePorctica Por meven 2 obec wrens, ALUL CEL C4 MPa ELV Oe CR La Peeve Clr eae per eerere riddle fe vopr cisvieviy of cetevi ii, Toews. Ir ceocvrec fev tire: Yor everm oie qolles treverlead, 2.6 Toes ccs Toma opr cae oe CUO Ler rile Feb ee Spi. Te ere nee eet OP Lo ee rt be venacc, T slievle think cLout five ycr sovere nile voule Le ¢ reir aeverace fer this rerticn cf the state, This vould cls<, witlieut coukt, be oe Soir sanyie cf tie sreeter art of the stete, ce there ifs arly ¢ mecerctec anovnt of bire live in tie section, At Ittvcoece, US. Or. hinge rovrce ene rer very two Liles treveliec, Te 28 to 2a repvettec vie. Do ee VE a GOV eet op ecdi- BLOM E PPO ert lnPervce ererére, 6G ch vo keer Gln Viewer or nev whey THT cet veo aa et eLvceny wer oS ene Fo a, Pererel Dye lin os They nave veccme very taiie uron the canpus and frequcnt the of tre bcearding-clubs, where they feed uron the refuse scrars. A them have frequently beon scen upon a jporehn-roof velow my Vlndow, doors | co Tair of ynere (7) they were feeding on the meat lcft in walnut shells, fruit, :arings, and other refuse dror-ed there, and they would often cclme ur and ~Tercn on the windoy. sill. This would go to show that where protected, they would wecoiue pyermanent residents, quite soon, apd they are not naturally oS of atimid dis: osition, Mans auticritices consider them nishly beneficial, in fact, class then vith the Chickadeus (s::e Bibliograrry), but with the excertion of their seing fFeund cating tyté@lasyis poworui by Professor Forbush in Massachusetts, there seci tc ve no satisfactory notes or data uron Which to vbasce this assiuaytion, Value, Trough, in view of these facts, I snould desire to exyperiivent soue- ont 2 av eT ~ 5 O44 ~~ vy, ret “5 Ss 7 % , , - ean on a 7A ys 4 * - Yoa be Wd bo. vv: Cha Lik fil Lite Gas LEC Oreyat C., p20, re CG aad: Late Ue dek LO ~C MWore= 5 4 aac - yt Tyan a7 47. Aaotan om ry yae af 4 54 ~PLY wy dg “ : Li . ‘ye t lv VewWe Ve i ’ \ wo acd c be CAC LSOMIPYPOCO Lrieve WVYLa Gos O we vou + + 1 7 ng 7 4+ 2 8- et wot. 2 sagt tee a a ” 4 9. ad ~ a er wa ot (see Son dR + os “yay Pye Vi i. QO Glew lees b.. | Wd ee Ch ; Ou FP). | te - i Gisahs 2 Cow h Ly L5 GL uier abe \Jacd are ys? =] or Cc . c wim ypel <° r] =, crt 7s °° +, went 1 ’ ad t 6 whew 1.0 ie OL a ale Cc dens ea COL ad ( bm eek { - ait ¢ ad “3. ~ Wt heaabi ls g a Ve TN FA ek pee aee eT r _ aot yas te gan et + sary tee 4° *” - ~ * a ~ S . . ° 4. ° dh Dawe 2 OP wee iy Cr Li et Bolu Ae (rk © ert. o eet - \ Gos lt Lk iw db veins Ne. v.12 7 d. a §. - a- > ~ - - «a ef. 4 . a~al . 9 t. y Cc ~~ = , Ase ,re \yr98 : a ~ c a“ “~ : ® ! 1 vs ~- (oe. ~ ee C8 ch UCG., CO. wo ae 8, i) toe oY - Vo 4.) ~ - 7 ¢ afl - e-ty Analvsis ofr Muiber, Date, Hymenoptera, Se " Adults, Lepidoptera, 9 Heniptera, “s “ Adults, " Aciults, " Larvae, Ortho; tera, heuro,y tera, " Larvae, " Bess. " Ins ‘ct Forns. sriders, S of Animal ifatter, ‘; © Vesetable " Coutents 14.) | / a 80 ~~. ott segs 7 1 °~ . OL MY WA dea. + . + van err e 8 80 bo C1 Tr, 10 tates /Fo0,.10, /Feb.16 ! { \ : a — e0 4, 20, a | | Ae Oy 1 \ Vp~we | ; 6 8 2 4 Qo ! | \ ' | 15 5 | | 20 al 8 Py & + | 0 B33 BS 50 50 8 : | 10° 2 10 49 50 92! 10 2 1 oop lL 7.1.08 wee ee te nea ~/W sy b — Jd Cy mers) 8 | C1 XA n> on Muuber. Pate, aS a A 4 th SD bo > Pty atte wtoades W Any “om md week wh td e -- a anes , N“ > > Le D1 a “ use CA e 72° yw: ML Ulsan to q AT tt yes c i . wow ve ww & J a 4 v x. .407 o ~~ oa VID O>743 : am wee -. * “e “y* - Lp i.e - A ~ e 14 - if N ‘ ~ Ad ~ @ ~ 7 = es _m— ae ‘td it T woe ~ a ! vr. - ee ao. 4 »d 6 “. > ~ . ~ 9 f° ” a wee me le 4 “ CC v7 , yoy ¢ ’ 2 se ~ cf ~ _ ~ ) T -~ ~ a ‘ “ Ase am 2 hd Cee ae -- aw —- as TACT Nouv cd, 46, 47, «2 4°, 50, --------- Arril 10, ---------------/ Apr.17. 56, (9) 57 .Toval | 20 | 70 50. (5) 1) 2) 8) 2 1; 4 ml Tr.| 3% 31 (4)4 So a (23) 5 50 2 3 | (10) 1 |e] eB 5 2ri}41)a1a) 1a)! it ato. 1 1 (2)2 1 11 40,5 (3)17 i 2] 8B | ee 1} of s| 9! 7] 2) 3) 1) 3 2| 3] 60 0 Die] sf} eo) 7 al sie) sl al 8] oo 1 41 20.1) (33 so |c75 | 95 | 90 100 | g5 | 45 | 9 60 1100 | 95 177.5 0 0 5 & | Tr.| 5B | 45 0 | 30 0 5 115.5 20 5 | tTr.| 2 2c | 10 | 10 | 10 | tr, 7. 7 | .77|1.ac}/1.16) a. | .46] 54] .77| .4 | .93]/1.59| 184 fog ; , ! _ || | (10) ee @e am ew oe om c= off Om Oo ow == / 7. .% ~----/ me we ee ee eC e vr 15 ---- Feb, Ay 4 : | rt C o> wQ ci | <4 3 ~~ om oN ! e e “ r “~ r 4 ce) ri i> rr an) ” -— -— ri a rd oe) -_— t) r- ¢™ ; OQ rs cq wt OQ re ci 2 MN MH ri Cc 52 62 st! ri 12 O — ww ~~ w WS Ww NS — ret ri Ww | —_ eo | | x OF - OQ N - u) © oe . tb oo. | r’ & O rr cS rt | ; O ) Oo i~ r | | i 09 re é nue qt 4 Oo Oo nn Ff CQ _ _ _ a 8 | a= qt qt XN Q oO f° 6wUlUlUY rt CS - _ ~f . rr ro) ct OY nN Oo oOo o & a rt © qf - _ 7 | _- OQ “I rc E+ ct CO | ° | re CQ te) rt QQ NX) QQ WD vo t%) r- ~- X N ° ee ——f- = s— Nx) Sa) u) oO uw u) i> c ND ° (11) -~ list cr Insects Found in 24 Stomacnrs cof tre Write--Lcliice Kuthatehn, - 4. eee Hylenortera, Fvaniicve= 1 in 245, Praconicae- ¢ in =46, .47, and +48, ~ - ‘i 9. on dows * = . eo. la Tontorecinicaée- 1 in: 47, Aer Ste : == :- u Mom delcee- uvrnica spr- 26 ln cede. ma- 7 tary yatta te . 7 lee 4 - ’ + A, 4 To Tal Psycho: vera- Oi adults in V7 stomacns, J yen “ Lenidortore, ~ a. mae foe - -, 4 ent ia- cqgen & ., - s yoo Y Text to, i= . mee) . es J. f. oa q en Cl oda . Vbbo e hos x ed Ye a4: a oe ° on -- * Pole a Jae poop vores Aamlisce cs, supeac- 1, in & stowacns, - a r Fey~ event re . - a eh es hs { el 6.3 dae " a) * + “hens e “ e (i— + < a ‘ ~~ . —_— > a ’ - e eo AE eee UAC Ri ft wWaehe oe pose bo when ce axsC lo a vuad adi ~ we UIC LW 6 Colcoyptera, Carabidac- 4 in =456 and #42, Har;alus sp? 4 in =*7 and =°3, ‘ T ae torosticmus sp? 2 in -S2., a Rlnatericco- 1 larva in :"7, _ . : ~ 4. 3 = - ~~. 7 4. 2 Va “ymresticae=- Lo ecwit in -# PlotGl Colooy tava Adults- 69, Larvae-zgzg, in 23 stomacns, Neuro.tera, Porlidae, e3e libel’ ulidae- 1 in- 45, es | ‘ : Total ieurs;rtera,- 1 Henirtera, Tin C3 itidae, Piesiuia cinerla- 37 Recuviidac, 22 eges Corci¢cre, 6 adults “10, 7 “14 and =%% ™ 4. ~ Te me -~ “ Jas TOval Pouipitera- Acults- ol, Orthorvtera, a & in :°8, 3-10, -45, and :-43, Total Insect Forisi- Aculis- 1061, Puypae- 1, Larvac- 22, Arichnida- 7, adults in 8&3 Oe in 7 stomachs, stowacns, in 11 and ="24. esyess- 21, in 15 stomacns, egses- 215 zw1l5. (13) Bibliography Concerning the Food of the White-veliied Nuthaten.,. Audobon, J.wd. Insects- wreaks oven acorns aid ehcshuts for then, Baird, Brewor, and Ridewav, Vol.I, Pe.1iis. "Thelr Cavorite ford is imsects in every condition, With this, when abundant, they seem content. In winter ywnen snow or ice covers the brancies or close against them the trunks of tne trees, they will even alist on the ground in quest of seeds, The Furopean syecics collect avd store away the fruit o° t.e nazel and other nut-bearins trees, Our bird is su;yosed to do the sane, but this is bv no imecns an uncdisi: uted fact," Charman, :rank My y-handbcoxn of Birds of HKastern North America, PGa,3s35, "Their na.e is Guriv.d from their habit of wedsing nuts (with our species usually beecnuts ) ima crevice and then hatening thea with repented strokes of the bill, ---- When tre cares of a fauily devolve upon nim, the Nuthatch escnews all society and rarely ventures from his forest home, But in the winter I believe even the birds are affected by the orrressive loneliness; the stransers of the sumer becoie for a tiize boon companions, and we find te Downy Woodpecker, Chickadec, and Nuthaten wandering about the woods or visiting the vecnards on ap;,arently the best of ters," Cook, Awd. 8irds or ‘iicenisan, Ps, lwo. myil.2 rtiace acorns containi.g weevil vrubs in some ecrvity of the bark and held thei. secure anc then ;ieck out the delicate tbht-bit,." (14 ) Coues, Dr ,Mliiott, North Aimerican Rirde , Pe.ce. "Chierly insectivorous, put also feed on hard nuts,” Davie, Oliver, Vests and Mees of North Atwerican Sirds,. "Two Lroocs are not infrequently reared in a season, Usually select for their nesting place the adecaved trunk of a tree or stub, rang- ing all tie wey frou. to CO fect avove the wrounc, Often the old ” 4 3. “NPT wey LL ae ~-, + 4 the Downy VWoocdpeekor is .ace usc of." dot one a 4 ” wf om nt Cxcavetclicn o2 Dovse, WE, Boston, tass, Bullecvin Wutiall Ornitnolosical Cluk.Vol.4Ppe6l, "While coliceting in Walthaw, in November, I ovserved a Sitta Carolinonsis Pecding on a ciuseail cead locust tree, It finally went tc tre end of a broren line anc took therefren quite a lorse larva, eet ~ : ” toy st - S$ an dt . “ na 4 ~™. , - : -. - . e+ 7 lw Wriel. it wueked inte a crevice, vont woe .ark von it, cave a fer lient roys cver une vrlece, ene tl oi Poerced ta de tre Sa. With were Louvec," Torbes, 2. WT Tes, Pituliciere, eotenticoe, ec lacy vusg@, Cern i: sour cet mr tee ed CL aks Poe Te leliyo seh Voll, Til Slee Peo ,ot Pewvral Histor. Cm ys, 2 POG OS Proetecvere <2 Orenrarce, imeovi., Lovo, V’.ac. We Oa SO ee Te deer SF eel fab series oe Uti Ce a RL pa © ee Pei es. fa Ge TOe ir on Keeler, Chnas.A., Berkley, Cal. Ornbthologist and Oolosist, Vol.13, Pe.l2 Kins, F.E. Economic Relations of Wisconsin Birds. Gooiogy of Wisconsin Vel.1l, 1875-75, Pe.43acs., "Of twenty-Cive specimens exanined, fourteen had caten thirty-two pectles- auong which vere three Elaters, one, tyvo ants; one, one, one, acoris; and cne corn," two cs heneficial and eighty unknown. (Ass highly beneficial from above data, ) Samuels, and ess, Warren's Tircs of Pe cnsylvanis, a Mn ~s "Inseets, Vilson, Alexander, American Orni "Searcen for spiders, ants, ereat nualbe rs that I have every rocson te woliove the Teir Tervaod Torii tseir eri nmoececcityv Dos womiid Juve t with suc. bncdectatiecvule ate nute lew eeetiomec ern a cnrysalid; two cat Oxy: i 1 lars ; Or Onm lan thology, insects, - a4 te + 7 1’ Cai? Ci C, corn, 5 (15) one long-norn, and a lady bug; ne, tyvo erubs of a beetle; oe S, siiall toad stool five, Of these ten were recommized as noxious, mes thet the Nuthatch is and sceds," Pe .do, and their larvae, From the all seasons of tne vear, I have vues, s1.all secs, ins ‘ects and stonee, jl@itner econ T see wnat Chkuletle te twmuiks ef treas © Cilipouee vide weucrneis or oe" (16) a) ii. 1 T 4 57° e, (Parus atricaptll _Y rade LC carred C V Ao” Blac ninetecn of G2 $4 ¢, 4 2 Lu: cives Table II . ) 7 ~aal . “~ 4 Y ene! 3 q 4 'C Sect: were 4 ak he vavle my od ~ \? ane joe wit « OLE Cran ev i) “cd et on 4. o--4 4 ~v — as Ve re e \ C v—-< (17) in tne winter avout 2/12 of tire insect forns were adult, 3/13 larvae, and 7/13 eces; in tne srringe, 4/5 were aault, 1/30 larvae, and 1/6 eres, While the total bulk of tne food in the spring was 1/10 larger than tnat of the wintocr, yet there were over 60 times more “Corms eaten in the winter tnan in tne springs, whicn was largely due to tie enormous numoers of Reduviid e::ss then consined, Character or Food, Hemiptera, egsms and adults, Cormed by far tne greater Fart of the food of the first period, with Coleortera and Iepidortera next, or possibly frou an economic atandroint of equal importance, During the secong y;eriod, the greater yart ° the food was adult beetles, witha large portion of adult Leridortera, In two stowacns, wonis of consider- able size were found, One was @ si.all, white and cylindrical form, while the other wes white, but more flattened, with longer semments, anda true ta: e-vorn, Several well Known insect ~ests were found in considurable munbers, .% Arere: tia.ie vr Pueevletrixn ec]? yvyee Ib ive siciecrss Ce Lectric larvae inFitwe; 105 Coleoptcrous voring larvae bn two; 15 Aphis mali ess ? in :28; and 77 iMyt&las: is pomorum scales in four stomachs, ( Each of the latter doubtless covered hundreds of esrss, so that their destruction at 3 this stase cannot be overvalucd)., The only beneficial forms found were 2 nine adult Caravidav in four stomachs and possibly the 450 Reduviid esss secured froin twelve stoiacis may also te so considered, wut the auiount of their value is very uncertain, Thus it is scen, that the injury done by cating bercficial insects is very simall and of doubtful aiount, while ‘ ' i ‘ ‘ ' (18 ) ainost the entire food is comprzsed of more or less noxious forss, The injurisus forus were also vaten in larse nonbvers, snowing that the bird would ve of considvravle value toward their revoval Wien »ylaced anong a larse mumbcr of them, and undourtebly would be esvecially userul in Gestroyvine 2 pest auring the winter season, In fact, Prof,.PForbusn hcs shorn by actual exreriment (see Ribliorrarny) that wien these birds are rresent in tiie winter the destruction of the eess at that time rendered it yossible for tre swiser birds to destroy all the larvae during a severe attack (Ff tee vcanhker-woriu, and the orensrd tnus produced a gosd vield, whereas, elsevnere tne trevs were largely dcfoliated, 4, Havits, ~t Its Pevits of life also Coi.iuend, as veing beneficial, The Cnicka- dees are usually founda in siuall flocks of from six to a dozen, of which the larger nei.ber are Purnales, These often wix with those of @oldfinches and Pree Sparrows, or are found in company with a pair of Nuthatches, during the wintocr, but -ecome more inde, endent as s-ring advances and there i@ an abundance of bird Jife all about them, Over half of uy specimens were sectred in bushes on low, dom, marsnyv ground, or along @ creck or roadside, They often descend to the ground in warsh land and scratch, auonge the d:ad rushes for any insects there, I am inclined to think that wost of the Reduviid esses were secured on such marghy eround, Tauarack was a favorite resort with many, About one-fourth were taken 4 from oak trees, but on these tney searcned for insects upon the tirs of the smoothbranches, rather than on the rousn trun as do the lutnhatches, Two were secured in an ayrle orenard, while five others were scen comings from one, “any times they were scen in orenards near dwellings, where I (19) was unable to secure then by use of the gun, When feeding on neavy timber, they Frequent only the edgees, where the injurious insects are invariably the most rlentiful, Abundance, Owing to the fact tnat they go in flocks and are therefore not so evenly distributed as the Nuthatches, it is more difficult to deternine their abundence, Althougch on tie cverese, cbout two were secured ror ally seeured in on isiuediate viel.ity. A Ploek of seven Cnickadecs 1s doubtless a vair averare for each sauarpiuiile anc in sie rarts of the state, esvecclaily the south eastern, I aia sure tnat they are iucnh more abundcant in orcherds than nere, Ability to Cneek Insect Pests, If fifty-five insects were consumed per day, by eacn bird, as will be shown tc be the case, 385 would be consumed fer day, and avout 137500 per year in each square nile. Thus upon tne land surface of Michigan there will annually be about 8,000,000,000 insects destroyed by the Chickacecs alone, Surely no mean number, During the sw.mer after the young have been reared tne numbcr of individuals sncsuld be for soime time at least tripled, giving us gO to Lo rer square mile, The census of 1590 shows tiat there are avout 8,500,000 aryple-trees ;lanted in “iienigan, and o ry the fruit trees, a_rvle orcnards are the Chickadees' favorite haunt. This would give ai averare of avout 150 trees per square mile- enousn for four ordinary sized orenards- or the average conditions existing in the better part of the state. As the (20) worst reriodg sf insect attack is during and after the »sreeding season, this would allow six birds to eacn orchard, Nineteen Chickadees contcined a total of 850 insect forms, a large magority 8 which were noxious, ic tle revweircer cr a doubtful character 2S Yreerras wieivy value, Pert 2 3 Tobe ve be lk oe a LL cae lo to secure in « Fair sized orenerc, a 25lt-dozen would eommsiune at least 275 forms a day, but rrovavly S50 would ve a nuen fairer estimate as the lervee ere avite rayidly cirested t1.0q wany were so Finely divided as to render numerous individvoels vholly indistinmuis.iable, Mow if these could " oe rorsuacca to nest nere and rear thelr yunes, whicen would proonsly e averase five in number, 1200 insects would be required -er day to feed the young and olc birds, Prof.Forbush stati that 5000 canker-worms wil: strir a latee a, yle-tree, Thus tre numvecr of insects eaten ~ -.. e sufficient to prevent tne defoliation of a large trce every four days, ond youns trees in yroportion, with no exrense whatever to the fariler for labor or inseaéticidcs, Value or Wintcr Residence, But this fails to take into account the large number ofr eres eaten in the wintcr, frou which the larvae, When hatched, might be imrossible to destroy- as snown by the ovsorvations of Prof.Forbusn cited above, Again, the destructicn of adult insects and larvae during tne winter is far more valuavie tnan later, weecause they are mostly the ones which lay the esses in tne spring and thus kec, up the life ecvele, There are but few other birds rresent nere in winter to perforia this vork and these twobpirds also secure ticir food from ylaces where no other birds present (21) at that time of year vould searen for it. In this they form a well bal- aneoed courle, tne Huthaten seeurings his food Crom the roush bark of the main trunk while the eniekadee Tees aveayv ct toe siuavl uuics and toints, loose vark, ete, of tee sucli.r, suo tn liuvs, In accition, it can be : - aT -Jy 48 7 3 a HVA 4 +7 +. 44 - aA ; in favor or poth threse _ires tat lev ere inelined to remain in oF sal one vicinity “ind @o not wander Tar Pro 1t, buv steacily and thoroughly worl, over one feedings ground, Possivsility and Desiravleness of Partial Domestication, Both these birds are very easily ayrroacned, and will readily lured to ortoharcs or shace trees, - they are quite couzaon uyon the shace trees of Lansing ana as stated vuefore are very tanac on the campus, It is then, self-evident that by overv means thev should be vneour- ° oa Tor thou till they beeome at nowe, by erecting rt © aged, bv ylacing suitable nesting sites, anid by careful protection, to feed ani nest in 4 the enardas, It tient ve interesting to try the expcriment of destroy- ing as wany clad wood:ecier holes as «cssible and bv «.lacine suitable - nesting sites in the orehnard to thus entice them, Yet in seneral, the Old holes in wnien they aest snould ndte all cut out when seeuring fire wood, but a sufficient numver ve alloved to rumain, If the fan.er vill take a very little time now and then in thus attracting these fertnered insect-dvstroyers to his oreliard, he will soon find very little if any need for insecticides excert for extracrdinary a:ittacks."An ounce of rrevention is worth a found of cure", is truly more ap;licable to the > a a Ctl ee ye, . § “4 a Tog ae cys nn cestry Ce a. rn ae ~ oa fl i «al LA ( 4 CE Y cd * Cu CT Li CLCU.ClLa, habits of the Chickadees, imien cf whieh suyyplenionts aid confirms the above ‘eonclusiors and recommendations, Analysis of Contents of Stores of mcm rrr eee plaer-cavred Cnickedecs, ate, Jan,1& —/---den, nO ce /--------Fob, ebro Tso epicortera 7 | 60 © | Tr. 15 7 " Acults, " Lorvec, 45 1 1 1 emiptera 25 |30 | 10] 20 | le " Adults. 3 1 35 " Tess, 3 57 50 10 77 | 40 Oleopteora 15 62 £0 40 20 25 25 13 " Acults, il 10 2 4, 1 2 2 1 1 " Larvac, 6 1 2 Irthorteora, “2 jintera, 10% 2055 1 1L SL 1L ‘otal Acults, /~ Ly}; 10 2 3 4 1 5 | 37 0 1 " Larvac, 45 8 0 1 5 1 3 0 2 1 " Eess. 3 60 52 10 77 | 40 " Insect Forms. 46 18 5 61 9 54 16 37 74 “2 spiders % 25] 8 35 | 35 |10 10 " Muneer, — 15 2 1 1 3 1 1 » Aninal watter, “100 85; 100; 109 95 {100 75 35 70 iO » Veretavle " 15 5 25 65 30 75 Total contents, C.Cc. 2035 4S 04 25 6A 0o 0% 2U 62 54 (25 \ Feb.21/Feb.16/ --------Feb, 24,.-------/Feb.25. e e Py ow QQ en) sH OQ oD AQ Nw) vwKr™ oOo e e -~ uD CO rc CO CQ © _- — uD sD v- + - Hint - List cf Insects Foung in .zct Stomacns of tine ~lack-caryred Chickadee,- -~ bd d Levrits a Melee ThE y~l ce. . * - ms : - W's "yy - 7 eh 6 ye - en . ve - ws o Jv rd . 7 Mancuildse- Mmicios wacomarivcs, sy egqie im ous att od, a . os o . nn lee e ‘| 7, Moctuidée- 1 Catoeanala (7?) eer: in 7, BO larvee ii TN 7° ry In nen Oe CA wm Vac ad. al 5 ’ tu 9 ra — > , Lo ft > 7 6 a 9 , eLina ; “el 3 e Total Levicdgortera:- Acults-6,. Pulae-3, TLarvae-o7, he: 9 stouwaeis, Diptera, Acults- 1, Larvae- 7, in 4 sto..acns, Coleortera, Carabidae, 3 adults in 6, --15, =410, and ;™42 Secarabidae, & " 3:58 and -'S50 wt. a g . 4 e té Ceramcicidce, 2 puyae in A Borer larvae, 105 in .27 and “28. Total Colvortera:- Adults-43, Puyae-2, Larvae- 118, in 16 stomachs, Orthortera, 2 ensg in--le. Yemtivteora, Tinsit dav, riesiza cincria- 3 adults in :w7 and °42, Reduviidae, 450 eses of two svecies in 12 stomachs, Pentatomidae, Stirvtrus anchorams, 7 cess in 5, Aphnidae, Ayhis mali- 15 esses in -w28s. Coccidao,- tivtilasyis poiorw.a seales,77, in =415,13,-27, and-219. 9 ef “ ' -~ Total Hemiptera:- Adults-S., Mses-4"°3; in 15 stomacns, (Aricnni@aa-260. Total Insect Forms:-Adults-149, Purnare|s3, Larvae-194. Vepe-4zua o oar 2 (26 ) ~ Bibliogracny Concerning the Food of the Black-ca;rred Chiekadexr, - Raira, Brewer, and Ridewav., Vol.l, Pg. 08. "Thoush nearly ounivorous in food they prefer insects to evervthing else," Davie, Oliver, Uegés and Mees of North Aiserican Girds, "The nest is constructed in deserted woodrecker noles, natural cavities in trees, decayed stuns, holiow feneve-:osts, etc, These places are Filled witha mass of lvaves, woss, dary srassus, and warmly linel with downy feathers, hair fron cattle, and often the fur of sialler aquacdcru: eds," De Kay,i.uts, nierous insects, and larvae, Mt -, orbes, S.A. Buiietin 37° Ill, State Lab, of Natural History, May 1°83, Pe.8.- "Unrortunately, was net at all coimmon in the orenard (one badly infected with canker worm); and only two sz:eciiiens were taken, one in each year, 615 of their food consisted of canker- worms, caven by both birds, and Coleoytera iiace tne entire renaind- er, These were nearly all Cerambycidae (Psenocerus surernotatus ) and Rhynechorhora of undetermined s:ecies, 359% of tre fomser and 10°’ of the laiter, Bulletin -% Vol.1 Iii. State Las, of Natural History- contains a more extended discussion, vut was unovtainable, Forbush, E.H, vass, Crop Report, July 1895, Series 1895, Bulletin =3, Biras as Protectors of Orchards- as noticed in Auk, Ps#.535, 1805, "Paper relates largely to tne destruction of esses of the canker- worm moth by winter sirds, notably the Chiexadce, which also feeds vw (27) in the fall on tiie vwinsless tTemales of the sase destructive insect, An account is siven of an attempt to protect an old and neglected orchard from insect revases cy setting winter birds to wake it their naunt by suspending in it pieces of meat, ctc. The experiment srovs not only that tirds can thus be attracted in large numbers to a iarticular area, wut that they y;rove wonderfully destructive to insect rests av’fecting fruit trees," Saiue article in ‘iusewa, July, 1895, Pe.26. "ir.Bailey placed twentv-two female canker-vorns on one tree, and in a few min tes twenty of them were cartured and eaten by chica- dees," ---- It vas noticed as svring a:vpreoacned and insects becanuec more munerous that the Chickaders came very seldom to the meat .--- Tovard tne last cf April the Iinelish S.a-row besan to arrear and avyarently drove tne Chickadces to the woods, as tney disa pfearcd and did not nest in te orenard, but remained in tne woods, vnere they yaird and nested,--- Believes that the English Sr-rrow is larsely resronsibvle that Chickadees are not found nesting nor as abundant in orcnards as formerly- es eciaily near cities, Noticec that while trees in: neighboring orcnards were seriously infested with canker-worms and tent-caterypillars, those in the orenard wnien had veen frequented py the Cnickadees during the tnter and srring were not seriously infested and that comparatively few were to be founa there. The trees to which tne Chickadees nad been lured durins tne winter had been so well protected that the swiaiser birds were avle to destrov the Cow remaining larvae, Wiile the trees at a distance froin these contained so wany larvae that the birds were noe nuusercus enouen to disrose of them or nueke anv eccective recuction icir retirement in the a) in their munbers, The Chickacev:s living in t woods ca:e out to tne orenards, flyins sowe distence to procure eamxer-woris with wrien to feed their voung, Mav 18, Ur .vaiicy sav a femole Chickacee carry vo larvee to its nest, all but tvo being - s ey - on™ 4 27 ~ (ya o _ oN ~~ ‘ 7 canhor-worls, ane these tont ente gillors, my other ore - ens wee en ae OO 2 94 ee et, cote a Mensa ct 4. FT one er LS NT - 4 -~ 1 O° - Meg - by OF . wt, re Soa. - a i) ‘ me. om CAM we 20 ellt= Wa CU, U One, Beamer eto Tatas FO EG desteoesiony 3° tent-eat Ll On ’ ‘ 4 —_ ~ Aa “-N or ’ ? ce “~ * ” YN , “14 . ad | Wo. ae 7. : Ch : ss ae , wey: ie eo. uw. ha cl! : aD } co wr a 3) ee u oa « Ca uw YP 1 aL Yeeler, c..as.aA, “erkley, Cal, Ornictnclosist aid colomist, Vol.is, Ps.le2. °r Ains, FH. Beonomie Relations of Wiscons’n Birds, Wiscousin Geological 4 Survey, Vol.I, i873-79, Pe.441l,. "Of twelve s, eclii:ens examined, seven had caten fourtecn larvse, ten of which were catervillars; seven, thirteen veetles; two, sriders; one, three neterortcrous insects related to the genus Tinsis; and O @ Hy }-- < Oo G seas of some insect, One of the twelve ned in its ston- ach a few seeds." With valuable notes upon its habits, cte. The tanle snows 42 adult forvus eaten by 12 birds, 14 larvae by 7, ands esses in one, Two beneficial forms were eaten bv two individuals while 17 noxiso:s ones vere consinied by cisht, 37 insects in 10 stonczehs were of unknown value Maynard, C.d. "Tnsects,- larvae and e-ss- verries, fruit, acorns, pine, aid sun- flower seeds, ana poke berries, Also canker-worus," wa-ren's Birds of Pennsylvania, 2 "Tnsect life and sceds of various weeds, srassos, and plants, (29) ° Cries of prend, vi CO ces OF meat, Sragmuonts oF a ples, | wars, and other fFrmiits," Wilson, Alexcnaer, American Ornitholosyv, Vel I, Pe.ics, "They traverse tne woous in rusulecr progress cn, from tree to tree, ro yd 7" ¢ TAN ke ~ 7 *. nN 27 7 7 *. Yt ; ; rT .- tuublings, chati~eoring, and naneine frou the extrenities of the Tepananoe arama ware avast th KN ontea ~" ]Jo-avyes X99} aA ht an c wo caddis OSs On Abe Line OU u oa LO 2 -Vblwe OL av Ui 9 was 9 cals crevi ces for insects a..¢4 their lervae, Trev also frequently visit tne orenaras, particultriv in Call, the sides of tie sarn, } f—-~ ~ Cc ‘= =e