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Illinois Ornithology: Early Ecological Studies of Illinois Birds

A finding aid for Illinois Ornithology resources, historical and current, including publications of the Illinois Natural History Survey.

The Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History published early studies on the trophic ecology of birds, with emphasis on the importance of birds in controlling insect populations and the resulting benefit to agriculture.

text and chart from

Table of the food of the robin

Excerpt of charge published in Forbes' "The food of birds."

chart showing organisms recorded as food by bird species

Tables of the food

Excerpt from the chart published in Forbes' "The regulative action of birds upon insect oscillations."