Canadian National Parks Branch asked Provincial Ministers of Agriculture to 
     
     give their views on the value of birds. It noted that "If you think bird 
     
     protection is unnecessary, read what they say." Excerpts from the paper by 
     
     P.E.I.'s minister are provided below. 
     
    

    
     "There is no subject in the field of natural science that is of greater 
     
     interest than the important position occupied by birds in the great plan of 
     
     organic nature. 
     
    

    
     The food relations of the birds are so complicated, and have such a far 
     
     reaching effect upon other forms of life that the mind of man may never be able 
     
     fully to grasp them. The position occupied by birds among the forces of nature 
     
     is unique. Their structure fits them to perform the office of a swiftly moving 
     
     force of police, large bodies of which can be assembled to correct disturbances 
     
     caused by the outbreaks of plant and animal life. A swam of grasshoppers 
     
     appears, or an irruption of field mice, and birds gather to the feast from far 
     
     and near. 
     
    

    
     ....Birds are classed as useful or injurious only as they affect man or 
     
     his property. In an uninhabited country birds cannot be ranked as beneficial or 
     
     harmful, good or bad, for there is no agriculture. With the beginning of 
     
     agricultural practice all this is changed. 
     
    

    
     ....Most of the animal and vegetable forms that he produces are at 
     
     variance with those produced by nature and must be continually fostered and 
     
     protected if they are to maintain their artificial character and excellence. 
     
    

    
     ....The enormous losses which have occurred in this country from the 
     
     destruction of growing crops by insects must seem incredible to those who do 
     
     not realize how vast are the number of insects, how stupendous their powers of 
     
     multiplication, how insatiable their voracity." 
     
    

    
     ....Hence the importance of the study of these natural counter checks, 
     
     among which birds hold a high place. With the disappearance of our birds, the 
     
     destruction of the natural wealth by insects forges to the front as a subject 
     
     of vital importance.... 
     
    

    
     ...The millions of the insect world are upon us. The birds fight them for 
     
     us and when the birds are numerous and have nestlings to feed the number of 
     
     insects they consume is enormous. They require absolutely nothing at our hands 
     
     save the privilege of being let alone while they work for us. In fighting the 
     
     insects we have natural allies in the shore birds, woodpeckers, song birds, 
     
     swallows and martins, certain hawks, owls and the bats. All these wage war at 
     
     their own expense. 
     
    

    
     The farmer might just as well lose $100 through a short crop as to pay out 
     
     that sum in labour and material in spraying operations and yet we go on 
     
     slaughtering our friends and allowing others to slaughter them. 
     
    

    
     ....In view of the known value of the trees of our country each woodpecker 
     
     is worth about $20 in cash. Each nuthatch and Chickadee is worth $5 to $10. 
     
    

    
     Thousands of busy men and women are to-day striving hard to promote 
     
     measures that will preserve the valuable birds of the world. They believe that 
     
     we have no right to squander and destroy a heritage of priceless value which we 
     
     have done nothing to create and which is not ours to destroy" 
     
    
   
   
    
     ECOPEI PUBLISHES NEW BOOKLET excerpts from ECOPEI release 
     
    
   
   
    
     Woodlands and Wildlife -what you can do is geared towards helping enhance 
     
     and maintain healthy wildlife communities in our forests. The 32-page booklet, 
     
     written by Gary Schneider and lavishly illustrated by Katherine Poole, deals 
     
     with many issues that affect what lives in the forest. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
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