New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-10
BIRD DAY. PROPOSED
TO TEACH CHILDREN TO PROTECT ruv
LITTLE sONGsTERs.
THE PROJECT APPROVED BY SECRETARY No,
TON nF THE DEPARTMENT OF AOp1otr.

EEE-ALREAD1 TRIED IN TWO CITIEg
"Arbor Day" having been successfully es,abIi,s.I
in the public schools OF majority Of the STAT.
"Brd Day" is now proposed either as a sor, =.
annex to the annual tree-plantDg celebration ana
ceremonies, or else a special festival Of iix.f
n distinct occasion when the children may ts,
part In a programme Of songs and short address.,
all with the object OF nstructing them in ornthol
gy and teaching them 10 protect and for IN.
birds OF the field and forest Though the pro,.c,
is in IT'S infancy yet. and no State Legislators
have passed upon II or even discussed H. the Ia
rartment Of Agriculture has set i,s seal Of approv,
I uoon the idea and urges the cooperation OF "a.
people everywhere
The argument IL the same az that advanced sr
"Arbor Day" az the meeting 81 the National Efa
cational Association in February. 1888 Then II wa
urged that the trees Of America were slowly b,
surely decreasing I'm number 70 the detrlnent OF tn
country at large and that an intelligent under
standing OF forestry would be Of great benefit 10 N.
coming generation and to the country az we'll Thos
who are advocating BIRD Day say that there "a
even more need OF protecting birds than trees
that the feathered songsters Of the states are ee
ting fewer as time goes on, and that the study o,
ornithoIogy will be something that ever child
will enjoy.
So strongly does the Secretary OF Agriculu,.
who by the way was the origina tor OF AHA,
Day" having suggested such celebration twenty.
five years ago. feed on the subject that he caused
to be prepared early in July four-page circular
intended for wide distribution. indorsing the plan
and suggesting how it could best be carried out
The most interesting passage in this circular reads
From all sides come reports OF decrease In M.
tive birds due the clearing OF the forests dra,.
ing OF the swamps and cultivation Of lanG. but e.
pecially 10 the Increasing slaughter Of birds fr
game the demand for feathers 20 supply the NIL
He Si ~: proclivties Of small boys a
attempt has been mads, TO restrict these after
causes by legislation. Nearly every State and Ter.
ritory has passed game laws and several states
have statutes protecting insectivorous birds, Such
pccted 10 accomplish much unless supported tY
popular sentiment in favor OF bird protection THIS
the people the value OF birds. and how can Il b
accomplished better than through the medium 0.
the schools?
1T is believed" the circular says In another part
that Bird Day can be adopted with profit BY
schools Of all grades. and the subject IS recon.
mended to the thoughtful attention OF teacheu
and school superintendent throughout the country.
In the hope that they will cooperate with Other
agencies now at work to prevent the destruction
our native birds"
OBSERVED IN TWO CITIES.
While BIRD Day" It now stands has not bees
adopted by any OF the States. 1t is more than
suggestion which may or may not be practical II.
idea has already been put into actual operation
and the experiment. on the small scale that has
been attempted. has proved success. In two
cities this celebration is already feature OF the
schools. and the children have hailed Il with de-
light Oil city. Penn. and Fort Madison, Mich,
are these two cities and the movement has so far
advanced in the former that the third annual
Bird Day" was held in the schools there on May
Of this year. 1t is certain that for some years,
at all events. this festival will be a fixture In the
life of the town
In Fort Madison. Mich. the first celebration o.
the took place on May 20 Of this year the re-
suits proving so satisfactory that Bird Day" VII
become an annual occasion there. Professor c. H.
Morrill, the superintendent Of schools in Fort Nad'
son, asked by the Department Of Agriculture 70
send on some description of the ceremonies. wrote
as follows:
never saw children more enthusiastic IN prepa.
ration happier in rendering They brought tnsn
pet birds they decorated the rooms with flowers
With drawings OF birds. birds nests flowers etc
. The buildings rang with bird music al day ne
came until standing space In many rooms was NJ
premium. II is safe to say that we shall cee.
National day
Strange as it may appear. Professor Morrill,. OF
Fort Madison. had never heard OF the OH C''Y
Bird Day" and the idea Of establishing such
celebration was all his OWL The direct honor OF
the project goes, however. TO superintendent - a.
Babcock, OF Oil City. who. early In lsi wrote 70
| Secretary Morton urging that there be Nationa'
BIRD Day." and stating his plans 10Y MS own
| schools. Secretary Morton at once rephed hdors'
! Ing the project In some communications 10
the Department. Professor Babcock described now
| his pupils celebrate Bird Day" and the study OF
birds he has introduced I'm his schools Nothing
can show better the possibilities of such ceremonies
and such pathological study than these words:
The exercises this year Gs9) upon previous
ones varied somewhat in the different grades. They
consisted of original compositions by the puphs
birds Of talks by pupils and teachers. comparing
observations. giving localities bird haunts. and
Eminent prose writers on birds and from the
poets finally many Of our schools closed TIER v. s
per concert of our featiered brothers We BE-
gin the study of birds on January l. and continus
ri Iune studying those that stay all winter and
trying to keep account of the newcomers as they
arrive We dsy9ts ,b Two pSTodsR 2 y ay sum-
mary or focusing OF the work OF the year. :.
The results of bird study and Of Bird Day are m;
teresting. our children generally know most o.;
bird residents thcX also love them ana fee
Ike projecting mem iner, ma rTrn Se srnsH
boy and the birds.
Professor Henry b. Ward. OF the University o.
Nebraska, at Lincoln. has for several years been
observing the day in his classes by giving a gen.
eral lecture on birds. illustrated with mounted
specimens In other cities of Nebraska the SUBJ
ject is attracting considerable attention. and .
recent writer. Professor Lawrence Bruner In M
book Notes the Birds OF Nebraska says.
TT might be we'll to suggest that the subject 'o'
ornthoogy) Is OF sufficient Importance to can foi
It's being taught in our public schools. to ii'nl'ea
extent at least. We should have Bird Day JUST
as we have an 'Arbor Day and 4 Flag Day when
suitable exercises should be held commemorative
of the occasion"
From Connecticut there have also come mum"
Der OF inquiries Though new and known 10 '0,''.
paratvely few yet. the project seems ~ ~
hailed on every hand.
EFFECT OF INSECTS on CROPS
There ia another interesting view TO We '"N', =,
the subject. especially that portion Of II WIZ"
concerned with the preservation OF or's ue'"~
| Of hei val
Garden and Forest. has from time to 'ime Hau
good deal say this subject. IL has oeeh 80 -
mated that the total value OF the crops Oh '
country foots up about $iOo0on~" !'N.
and that insects on the average. destroy aoo',
| 10 per cent This makes the almost incredlnie V'a
of iOOOO0.OO0. over SlO0o@o dav. care" "
ruined In way by insect pests
I'LL In LIZ IL