Viewing page 34 of 117

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

- 17 - 

R. I. Alters near De Witt claimed loss of about 1800 bushels of rice largely from Blackbirds though part of this grain was eaten by ducks.

In general damage by blackbirds at one season or another was claimed by practically all of the rice growers interviewed and was so general that it was accepted by most as a necessary evil to be endured during the raising of their crop. This damage seemingly was so spread through season that it was not practicable to make a definite estimate as to its extent. There is no question however but that in the aggregate the grain consumed is of much more importance than the amounts destroyed this season in a few fields by Mallards. It seems probable too that the most serious damage is to be attributed to the individual birds resident in the immediate vicinity.

At the present time but little attempt is made by rice growers to control this depredations of blackbirds. Some said that occasionally they spread corn chop soaked in a solution of strychnine in the fields in spring. Others did some shooting particularly in badly infested fields where the rice was in the milk but otherwise the depredations of these birds were disregarded.

During my field work in this region some observations of interest were made in regard to the presence and movements of blackbirds. When I arrived at Stuttgart the ground was covered by an inch or more of snow that covered the rice stubble. This curtailed the feeding grounds of the large numbers of birds present as it covered any food that had lain on the ground. At this time many of the rice growers were hauling rice to the mills so that wagons loaded with rice were constantly traversing the roads. As jute sacks were valued this year at twenty-one cents each most of the farmers were hauling rice loose in specially constructed wagon boxes. Though these wagons were of tight construction much rice was scattered along the roads