Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-09-16
BIRD DAY." ("
Movement to Protect Songster0
From Wanton Destruction.
Public Schools to Have a Day
for instruction in Ornithology.

"bird day" in the schools throughout
the country has been made by the
Agricultural Department. The OBJ
ject is to set apart day once year,
or to combine it with "Arbor day,
for instruction in the value OF our
native birds and the means OF protect
ing them from wanton destruction.
The i,lea originated with Superintend-
ent of Schools Babcock of Oil City,
Penn. 1t has already been adopted
in two cities, Oil City and Port Madi-
son, Iowa.
The circular of the Department OF
Agriculture on the subject recalls that
tue idea of setting apart ono day In
the year for the planting of trees was
first suggested nearly twenty-five
years ago by J. Sterling Norton now
Secretary of Agriculture. 1t is be-
lieved that the observance OF bird
day will appeal to our people-par-
ticularly our youth-even more strong
ly.
The circular says that from all sides
come reports of decrease in native
birds due to the clearing of the forests,
draining Of the swamps, and cnltlva'
ton of land, but especially to the in-
crcas;ng slaughter of birds for game,
the demand for feathers to supply the
nillilycry trade, and the breaking up
of nests to crafty the egg-collccting
proclivities of small boys. An attempt
has been made to restrict the c.u'cs
by legislation. Nearly every State and
Territory has passed game laws, aud
several states have statutes protecting
insectiyorous birds. Such laws are
frequently changed, and cannot be
expected to accomplish much unless
supported by popular sentiment IN
favor of bird protection. The object
can only be attained by demonstrating
to the people the value of birds, and
how can it be accomplished better
than through the medium OF the
schools?
Briefly stated, the object of Bird Day
is to dfuse knowledge concerning our
native birds, and to arouse more gen.
eral interest in bird protection. AS
such it should appeal not only to orni-
biologists, sportsmen. and farmers,
ssaa haTs;a praOs;s interest," IN the
preservation OF birds, but also the
general public, who would soon appre-
ciate the loss if some of the sonSsters
were e1te,miuated. 1t is time to give
more intelligent attention to the birds
and appreciate their value. Many
schools already have courses in nat
rrnl history or nature study, and
such day would add zest to
r,lar studies, encourage the pupils to
observe carefully, and give them some
thing to look forward to and work for.
In the words of the originator
CT the day. "the general observ-
ance of bird day in our
schools would probably do more to
open thousands of young minds to the
reception of bird lore than anything
else that can be devised" " The first
thing is to interest the scholars in
birds in general, and particularly in
those of their own locality. Good
lists of birds havo been prepared for
several of the states, and popular
books and articles on ornithology are
within the reach of everyone. But
the instruction should not be limited
to books: the children should be en-
eournged to observe the birds in the
field, and study their habits and migra-
tions, their nests and food, and should
be taught to respect the laws protect.
ing game aud song birds.