xt705q4rkk8c https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt705q4rkk8c/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1938 journals kaes_circulars_003_328 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 328 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 328 1938 2014 true xt705q4rkk8c section xt705q4rkk8c S 1;` I B' d St d
 
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I UNIV ERSI I Y of KENTUCKY 1
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I COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE I
I I IDG Extension Division I
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1 I 115 THOMAS P. COOPER, Dean and Director I
1 119  
, 122 ———— ,
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I I NI Lexington, Ky. I
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{ Ulf . December, 1938 1
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I 14* Published in connection with the agricultural extension work carried on by  
I 149 cooperation of the College of Agriculture. University of Kentucky, with the U. S, _ ;
4 Department of Agriculture, and distributed in furtherance of the work provided for 1
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· ; Beloved ot children, bards and S 11*111 ·,
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  O l)1l`ClS, your perfect virtues bring,
V_;§‘ '· Your song, your {`orms, your rhythmic flight
°   _.   Your maimers for the heart’s delight,
    Nestle in hedge, or barn or roof,
y   i Here weave your chamber weather—prool`,
    l _ Forgive our harms, and condescend
»‘_°” ;l· ~· To man, as to a lubber friend,
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:,,     And, generous, teach hlS awkward race
  ’“ Courage, and probity and grace.
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 ‘ Circular N0. 328
SUGGESTIONS FOR BIRD STUDY FOR 4-H CLUBS’i‘
By W. D. FUNKHOUSER.
I KENTUCKY’S HERITAGE
.·\ citizen of Kentucky, visiting in Europe, who shows an interest
in birds, is likely to be greeted with the exclamation "Ah! You are
from Kentucky. Then you have of course visited Henderson and
Shelbyville and the Green River Valley, and you can tell us about
Audubon and \\'ilson and Rafinescjue!" Sometimes it is embarras-
sing for a Kentuckian to be forced to admit that he is not so familiar
as he might be with those parts of the State which have been made
famous thru their bird lore and does not know as much as he should
about the great naturalists whose works in Kentucky have attracted
so much interest thruout the world.
sl-H Club members who begin the study of Kentucky birds will
find not only that this is a wonderful state in which to carry on
such a study but that much of the ornithological literature of the
United States is based on the early work of pioneer bird students in
this region and an appreciation of this fact will do much to stimulate
interest in the subject and increase our justifiable pride in the j)f1l`l
which Kentucky has played in American ornithology.
Kentucky’s heritage in ornithology is indeed rich and it is un-
fortunate that more attention has not been paid to the fascinating
background on which our more recent bird study is projected. This
is particularly true in the case of john james .»\udubon, that best
known and most beloved of all bird students. after whom hundreds
of bird clubs have been named and who will always stand as Ken»
tucky's pioneer in ornithology.
.·\udubon`s life and work in the Ohio River Valley and particu-
larly in Henderson and Louisville make up one of the most romantic
and picturesque of all of the chapters in the annals of Kentucky’s
early days. His life, a curious blending of comedy and tragedy;
his work, heroic and yet pathetic; his successes and failures; his loves
gggfepured under the direction of H. C. Brown for the use of the 4-H Clubs of Ken—

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·  j·.‘-i ‘·:L
    4 Kerri/uc/cy Exlzension Circular No. 328
s c g
    and his characteristic prejudices; all make a drama of unusu;t|
i     interest.
  p   Until comparatively recent years the early life of Audubon wa,
` i   surrounded with mystery. Conflicting dates of his birth, rival
ij   claims as to his birthplace, speculations as to his parentage and early
_‘     training, were common subjects of discussion and controversy. lt
    was only with the careful and painstaking investigations of Prof.
i ir essor Herrick that these questions were Hnally solved. Professor
    Herrick has apparently established the fact that Audubon was not
- A     born in New Orleans as tradition has assumed, but in San Domingo,
    ii 1 and that he was the natural son of Jean Audubon, a Spaniard, and
, _,,i   q a woman known only by the name of "Mlle. Rabin," a creole uf
    Santo Domingo. He was born on April 26, 1785, and the bill of
_   Ni- the physician, Dr. Sanson of Les Cayes, who assisted at young Audu-
`{ .-‘i‘     bon’s birth, has proved to be a highly interesting historical docu
    ment. This bill, written and receipted in the doctor’s own hand,
_;_ _'-{ and approved and signed by Audubon’s lather is rich in unique
-_       items, not the least of which is the primitive materia medica record-
i     ed. Most illuminating are the items referring to the nights of April
    twenty-fourth and twenty-Efth which the physician spent at Mllc.
in     Rabin’s bedside, and to the birth of her child on the twenty—sixth.
  {   The story of Audubon's school days in France, his indulgent
  l .§;; stepmother and the development of his love of nature are biographi-
    cal treasures; his first visit to the United States, his "Mill Grove”'
   { experiences, his business ventures in New York, and his marriage
      to Lucy Blakewell, are matters of American history; his subsequent
      life in Louisville and later in Henderson, his erratic and usually
  unsuccessful attempts at business, his imprisonment for debt, his
Qi    perseverance with his ornithological work in the face of discourage-
    ments and difficulties, and his Hnal success—all interwoven as it is
    with the romance of the Ohio River a century ago—this is Kentucky’s
‘-ii      own story.
  In a brief study outline it is impossible to do more than merely
  lfp   suggest some of the more interesting of the topics available for study
    in connection with Audubon’s life, but it is believed that these topics
    are well worth the consideration of Kentucky students.
  Hardly less interesting is the story of An1erica’s Hrst real orni-
  thologist, Alexander Y/Vilson, since his contribution to the knowl-
  ·.’E tr

 S14_gg·:·.1·//1»11.» lor Bird S/zuly [01*%-H Clulix 5
11*111*111 edge 01 1{e111u0ky birds 021111101 be 1gllU1`C(1. 'l`he 1`CC()1`(1 01 111is
bm] Wm S(j()[(`11 weaver, 1l11l€1`2lll·lv1)1}(1(11C1`, 11001 and s00ia1.is1. \\L11() wandered
h NWI 2l1()l1C 1hr11 1\Clllll(jl<}`, visiung L0u1sv111e, Shelbyville, 11l`2lll1{1()1`1 and
` ` LCX1l1gL()1], everywhere 110111lg and 1`CCOl`(11l1g 1110 birds, 15 a re-
1111 C111`1} mm~k,lb]c (;]1;1P1e1· in 1110 \'()1ll1]1(i 01 scie111ili0 CX])l<>l`2!l10llS 01 0ur
31`§}'· ll C01111ll`)'·
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11111* 111111 rried 10 CSL1Ill2lLC 11lC1l` l1llll11)€l`S and 1110 21l1l()UllL 01 100d w11ic11 1110y 1
1-e0le 111 w0uld require. 11 was \\1ils011, als0, w110 1irs1 called 1110 a11e111i011  
1 11111 111 01 1110 E11l`()1)CZl11S 10 1110 1121171 111211 1110 birds 01 1he New V\10r1d were `
  ’\11(111‘ 1110 111081 1)C2l11l.111ll1 a11d 1110 1110s1 1lllC1`(jSL1llg 01 any in 1110 w0rld~
11 (1111111 and 11111011 01 11is 1fl11)l`1l12l110I1 was secured i11 Ke111uc1l11- 31110111 10ve 01 science. 11is vagaries and U1Il\1C1ll1()llS,11 11is sad end,
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1?11`1`l2lgC Hnal l`C(j()gI11L1()l1 by 1{CI1LllC1i12l11S, are all a pai`1 01 1110 l1is10ry 01 111is I
SCQUCIII Stale, `
usualli 1{2l1lIlCS(l1lC was a (f()l1lC111l)1)1`2l1`y 01 Audubon and X\1ils011. H0 1
cbt, his Sl)(ZI11 1110s1 01 his 111110 i11 1,CX1l1gL()I'1. \1\’11i1c a I)l`Ol1CSSOl` a1 Transyl-  
ourage- vania he 111:1110 lllillly 1l`1[)S 10 11111C known l)2`ll`lS 01 1110 S1a1e, 0011001- ‘
as it i1 ing Sl)C(`1ll1Cl1S 2l1l(l making i111er0s1i11g <)l)SCl`\'1ll11)11S (lll 1110 l)12111lS. 1
l11lCl{1`1*, 2111111112llS 21Il(1 00010gy 01 1110 area. 1110 r0s1111s 01 wl1i011 11e published 1
in Cl11`l()llS, 0111-()l1—l1lC-\\'fly places. He even (`()ll1lllC11lC(1 011 1110 J
l]1€]`€l1' evidences 01 l>rel1is10ri0 1110 which 110 l1()Llll(1 Il11(1 0110 01 11is "10s1  
.1~ $[ll(1l si1es" was 1`C(`(j11L1y rediscovered i11 Logan C()lllll}' alter 0ver a 111111- 1
2 10pi1`s dred years. H0 died in l>0v0r1y i11 l)1l1121(1(Jll)1ll2l 11111 11is l`C1l11l1llS l11)\\'  
r01>0se a1 'l`ra11sylva11ia (10110ge. Q
11 01*111- Sl1l(l(`l1lS 01 bird 1110 in l{dllCtS HTC  
ruined; forest and forest products are destroyed to the amount of  
 
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    10 Ke11I11ckyExIr’nSio77. Circular No. 328 \
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    one hundred million dollars; products in storage are reduced in
    value one hundred million dollars; the loss in miscellaneous crops
s ‘-   E is almost beyond computation-and these Hgures represent only the
      loss in one year in llzis coun/ry alone. Year after year the reports
_.     are the same.
; `     Such Hgures are, of course, entirely beyond the easy comprehen-
..     sion of 1nost of us, who do not count our dollars in millions and
Q   _ billions, yet they mean that we pay more to feed our bugs, caterpil-
    ii lars, beetles, grasshoppers, scale-insects, plant-lice, weevils and cut—
    ' worms than we do to keep up our entire school system. They mean
W _ r_riV     that we could pay our entire national debt in a comparatively short
ij; ’`,’.   ‘ time with the money we lose on account of insect pests. Entomol-
  ogists are constantly in greater and greater demand. Yearly the
    _ farmer pays more for chemicals, spraying machinery and labor, and
  U the end is not yet. This problem is very serious in Kentucky where
{Cj   agriculture plays so prominent a part in the life of the people.
    _ Our easiest solution of the problem is to encourage the natural
-`     . enemies of the insects, especially when these enemies of the insects
      are the best friends of man. Foremost among these friends are
_ i_   is our birds. The number of insects eaten by birds and the number
  ;j l of insect pests fed to the young birds during the nesting season is
    i enormous. In the study of the stomach contents of birds it has
  l been found, for example, that the stomach of one cedar-waxwing
  contained one hundred canker-worms; the stomach of a rain—crow
    contained over two hundred caterpillars; one chickadee had eaten
    nearly Hve hundred plant lice; one nighthawk had taken sixty
    grasshoppers at one meal; and one flicker had devoured a thousand
  chinchbugs. \\'hen it is remembered that digestion in birds is
    very rapid, it will be realized that the number of insects found in
  the stomach at any one time represen ts only a small proportion of
  the daily ration. One scarlet tanager has been seen to eat 630
  . L gypsy-moth caterpillars in 18 minutes—or at the rate of over 2,000
  an hour; one Maryland yellow-throat was found to eat 3,500 plant
    lice in 50 minutes; the breakfast of a wren consists of a most sur-
  prising collection of caterpillars, bugs, flies, beetles and grass-
  f_p‘     hoppers.
  We need much more information on this subject and one of
  the most important contributions which 4-H Club members could
··`¥*¤   if
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 1
2
$1/g‘g’t’.\`/1t1l!.x jor Bird S/ml)- [or 4-H CI11/is I I  
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l in . . . .
OPS make to ()lll` linowletlge ol the value _ol birds would be to keep t
[lm records of their ObS€l`V2ttl0I“tS tn the ·f1el·d, regarding the food of
mis birds. Wliat birds have youseen leedtng: \\'hat were they eating? 2
\\lhere did they find their food? Could you tell what particular ‘
I insects they were capturing? \\'ere they swallowing the insects or i
  were they carrying them to their nests to feed their young? lf you j
[fm- happen to find a dead bird, open up its crop and report the con- j
gm- tents, for actual stomach analysis is much better evidence than  
mere observation which 1nay be misleading. Such studies give  
tean . . .... . . . ,
hou Hrst-hand information regarding the food and feeding habits ol  
UO}- birds which 1S very valuable and will certainly prove that our birds  
[hc are worth consideration from a purely utilitarian standpoint.  
and BIRD LIFE i
H . .... . . l
hen Bird L1fe~the habits and habitats, the migrations and nesttngs. ;
food and shelter. the great variety of life-histories, the songs and j
uml calls, the wonderful instincts, the breeding and the care of the ·
*€€`i$ young, the ever widening panorama of activities—is a subject so i
HTC broad in its scope. so tremendous in its importance and so fascinat—  
aber ing in its diversifications that many a naturalist has devoted his ,
»n is life to its study with never ending pleasure. Such a subject can not  
has be outlined in a few brief paragraphs. Certainly, however, in con- `
ving sideration of such a subject, a few topics stand out as being of es- A
irow pecial importance to any group undertaking bird study.  
limi] Recogntilirm of Birds. One of these topics must be the subject  
uml of the recognition of birds. It is inconceivable that any progress  
slmfl can be made in the study of bird life unless one has acquired the j
ls is ability to distinguish at least inost of our commoner species. This  
tl m_ ability can come only with experience and perseverance in watch-  
H Ol ing the birds in the field. In learning the birds it is of great ad-  
630 Villllilge il` one can have the cotnpanionship of someone who is able  
WOO to point out the distinguishing characters of the birds and call at-  
mmf tention to the chief points to be noted in recognition. There is Hot  
Sul" ITlllCl1 advantage to be gained, however, from the SO-Called Ublfd  
$1*** walks" taken by a number of persons together. Birds are timid  
l creatures and are very susceptible to sudden movements and to  
C Ol sounds. Moreover, birds have the sharpest eyesight of any of our  
(wld illlllllitls and get a “bird's eye view" of the surrounding country S0  
3
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    l2 Kentucky Extension Circular No. 328
5 ; I
‘ .     that they are able to see a noisy, colorful group approaching and l
Q   can make their escape before they are seen. The average group I
_     from a bird club, often consisting largely of women and children,
  ,   the women for some unaccountable reason always wearing their
    brightest garments and alutays /al/ting, and the children for a per- 1
      l`ectly natural reason racing down the road ahead of the rest o[  
·   {_ the party, shouting and crying, has little chance to see the more S
l   timid and secretive of the birds. The way to see the birds is to go (
i     _i alone, dressed in somber clothing, and wait quietly in a secluded  
_,   spot until the birds come to the observer, rather than for the  
_       observer to try to "run them down." A good bird guide or manual —l
  `i`_ 1   · is indispensable and a pair of field glasses are of great advantage. 2
  A   Habits. lt will be noticed almost at once that each bird has
.ZiQ_j j     habits which are as characteristic as appearance. In fact it is often 2
  ‘f i possible to recognize a species from its peculiar method of flight, i
      of perching, of feeding, or of running, even the plumage characters l
·`·    can not be seen. Indeed, a study of the habits of birds will lead (
    to a far greater knowledge of bird life than will the mere ability I
  »iii   {il     to 1`€CogniZe species.
  fi j’ Foods and Feeding. Closely related to the subject of habits and l
  ___- i   l   to the more utilitarian subject of economic importance, is the lnill- l
J   lCl` of the things which birds eat and their methods of feeding both '
·`       themselves and their young. Birds take an enormous amount of food '
    in proportion to their size. This is due to their extremely active l
    lives which require an immense expenditure of energy and a con- ‘
  _·   _ sequent continued supply of nourislnnent. Animals whose method `
  of locomotion requires that they must push against such a light ‘
    111€dl11111 IIS 21il` 111USt Work much harder than those who can utilize
  a Hrmer medium such as the earth or even water. This hard work ·
 i  111621118 H large food demand and the birds are for this reason enor-
fjf_,·  mous eaters. Moreover, birds store up very little food in their
  by bodies but require a daily supply. Not only do the adult birds eat
  large amounts, but the young birds in the nest seein to have 311
  insatiable appetite as can be vouched for by any one who has
  watched parent birds industriously bringing food all day long t0 ·
  the little gaping mouths which are always ready to receive it.
  This explains why the birds are of such great beneht in destroy- ‘
  `y ing pests, since the destruction of each insect prevents that individ-
-*—.`   `

 T
 
SIlgg(7.SIi())I.S` jor liirzl S/tidy for 4-H Cliibs 13 L
and uul ut leust l`l`<>1ll lilyillg its lilllltilllde ol eggs und producing the `
Oui) yesultunt iuntily oi enenties to our iurnts uml orchurds. j
  Soiigs uml Cu//.v. l’>irds sing not only to express their joy ol` I
PCP living but to 2l(Z(i<)1lll{l1hll llliilly other 1JU1`pt>ses in the wonclerlul T
`L Ol. bird world. Sonte birds have retnztrlsztble vocubuluries uml euch
HOW species hus its chuructertstuu notes. jlhe scolding Ul1lC()\VH ol the y
O gn eutbird. the dunger stgnztl oi the robin? the love song oi the wood  
ldgd thrush. the niuttng whistle ol the quutl. the treninlous cry ol the E
[hc sereechowl. the pluntttve note `ol the dove, the Ishurp "do it" ol the  
mm juy, uml the evening hyinn ol thztnksgtvtng ol the hvesper spur-row i
rc. ure us distinct und us eustly recognized us the culls oi huniun voices.  
) has i\Ii_g`)`((/I·())I.S`. To the lover of birds the spring uml lull migrutions i
men ure the outstunding periods ol the yC2U`. At such times cun be seen  
ight, species not to be recorded lor other seusons uml the luct thut the  
mers periods ure short uml the observer ntust be constuntly on the look-  
lead out udds zest to the occupution ol bidding “huil uml lurewell" to ;
Mm liriemls who pause with tts only long enough to exehunge greetings.  
4 Birds muy be clussiiied us perniunent residents, sunnner res-  
amt idents. winter residents, niigrunts uml visitunts uml it is the lust E
mm two groups which ure so eugerly welconted during the greut ntigru- }
bmi] tion seuson. ln every loculity bird students should keep lists ol` A
[Om] the birds which conte thru on their long journeys uml this is by no ,
dive nieuns un eusy tusk since niuny literully "puss in the night." More- l
mw over, ntuny ol` them ure birds which we seldom see und with which  
mod we ure not very iuniiliur so thut they ure u constunt chullenge to  
lighl our powers oi identiiicution. j
tilivc Bird Hotties. Not less interesting ure the nests which in ntuny  
work cuses ure so womleriully constructed uml which illustrute sonie ol`  
;n0r- the inost iniportunt old unitnul instincts. '1`he eluborute pendent  
their pttrse ol thut niuster weuver, the oriole; the exquisite lichen-covered  
s eut iuiry bower ol` the hunnning bird: the hull nest ol the swilt, which  
e un trudition tells us is so built becuuse when the Queen ol` the l·`uiries  
hus instructed the birds in nest building the itnputient little swift wuit—  
ig to ed lor only hull the lesson uml cun therel`ore build but hull u nest  
, to this duy: the deep hole ol` the woodpecker. so durk thut the E
troy· woodpecl