The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-09-04
BIRD DAY"
Movement TO Protect SongstofG
From Wanton Destruction.
Public Schools to Have a Day
FOR Instruction IN Ornithology.

An appeal for the Observance Of a
"bird day in The schools throughout
the country has been made by the
Agricultural Department. The OBJ
jet is TO set apart a day once a. year.
or 10 combine II with "Arbor day"
for instruction in the value Of our
native birds and the means Of protect
ing them from wanton destruction.
The idea originated with superintend-
ent OF Schools Babcock Of Oil City,
Penn. Il 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
the idea Of setting apart one day in
the year for the planting Of trees was
first suggested nearly twenty-five
years ago by ]. Sterling Morton, now
Secretary Of Agriculture. It ID be
lieyod that the observance Of O bird
day will appeal to our peoplo-par-
ticularly our youth-eyenmore strong
~.
The circular says that from all sides
come reports Of a decrease in native
birds due to the clearing of the forests,
draining Of the swamps, and cultiva-
ton Of land, but especially to the in
creasing slaughter Of birds for game,
the demand for feathers to supply tho
millinery trade, and the breaking mp
Of nests to crafty the egg-collecting
proclivities OF small boys An attempt
has been made to restrict the causes
by legislation. Nearly every State and
Territory has passed game laws, and
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 diffuse knowledge concerning our
native birds, and to arouse a more gen
eral interest in bird protection. As
such it should appeal not only to orni-
biologists, sportsmen, and farmers,
who have a practical interest in the
preservation of birds, but also the
general public, who would soon appre-
ciate the loss if some Of the songsters
we're exterminated 1t is time to give
more intelligent attention to the birds
and appreciate their value. Many
schools already have courses in nat
ural history or nature study, and
such day would add zest to the reg
ular studies, encourage the pupils to
obsN re carefully, and give them some
thing TO look forward to and work for.
In the words of the originator
of the day. ''the general observ-
ance of bird day in our
schools would probably do more tc
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 il
birds in general, and particularly il
those of their own locality. Coco
lists Of birds have been prepared fol
several Of the states, and popular
books and articles on ornithology ar,
within the reach of everyone. Blu
the instruction should not be Limited
to books: the children should be en-
couraged to observe the birds in tn
field, and study their habits and migra
tions, their nests and food, and Shout,
be taught to respect the laws protect
ing game and song birds,
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TO Magnetic Hairpins.