New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-19
EXPERIENCE WITH "BIRD DAY"

INTEREST AROUSED AMONG OH. CITY SCHOOL
CHILDREN AND OTHERS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Apropos Of the article In The Tribune OF Aug
ust 10 concerning the proposed establishment OF
Bird Day" similar to Arbor Day as now instructed
It mag be of interest know what has been done
In that way Oh city.
4 course Of bird study arranged By me for our
schools several years ago in connection with our
other Nature Study" We began in the winter
and studied the winter resdents-learned their Names
their ways OF living their haunts ana habits ana a-
guage The work, Of course varied in the dnereh'
grades but all were engaged In it from the first pri-
mary n tho High School Two periods OF twenty
minutes each were taken in school every week III
which 10 compare observations, 70 exchange Kno"i-
edge of bird haunts. and TO receive directions iron"
tho teacher for further work Inc results were
written out by the pupils In the form OF essays as
part Of the regular language work-many being IL
ustrated by original drawings This work EXTENDED
through the spring and summer months till the close
NJ school each school trying to make bird calendar
by noting the arrival Of each kind of bird ana AFTER
ward keeping track Of his movements IL IS surpr'S
ing how much fifty pairs Of keen young eyes can see
The idea Of Bird Day came to me In the spring
Of 1894 | thought It would be a fitting summary OF
our work in this direction and would add Interest to
IT, since children and young people are fond OF specia
occasions and days which they can can ther very
own The first Bird Day" was celebrated IN the
echonls of oil city the first Friday OF May 1851
r,xercses were held in every schooroom ana las'ed
during the afternoon session They consisted OF orig
inl ESSAYS embodying the observations OF the pupis
nj songs Rotations and readings from leading prose
writer's and from the poets, and personatiohs VI
birds.
The enthusiasm developed by this hrst celeprauoil
uss good to see We have since observed II IN 1870
and 1896 with increased enthusiasm. 1t IS sdIa
dav for Tho children They decorate the schoolro0s
wifh flowers and bunting and Dlrds III cages ~
neone fiji the limited space OF the rooms, ana are
AZ much interested the children. one gentleman
thought so much Of the occasion that ne gave over
1000 dollhouse to the pupils 10 ASSIST the ce'e
bratOn. -oo, 7, a., sass
The results of this work are apparent IL Is saie
N saw that a majority OF our school chlidre S'o"
most Of our birds and their fast friends ana are
anxous TO know more. The number of bros mas
also notIceaby increased Some nest now near houses
Which aid not in former years, FOR instance, tne
scarle mayer and rose-breasIed grosbeak are COM
mon In the city The other kinds are much more
numerous than formerly. We nave many orloles' Sa.
birds yireos warbers, robins song sparTo"s
bmnfinos and martins in various parts OF the city
rbie work has not detracted from the other scnooi
work of the children. On the contrary theIe naS
heen a marked Improvement II also tends 10 tne
ostabshment of happy relations between the puPns
md teachers: IL brings them together upon supJec
a. rbch thev are deeply Interested teacher need
not be bird enthusiast 10 sIart "''i' e"o "' ~
I have received letters from superintendeniIs or
teachers of these places saying they were sols 10
adont rho day or had done Russo. Kan New
Castle Penn: jefferson OHIO; IitusVe iii, o. 'aa
Rrvn Mawr Penn. 7 have also received inquiries
ION I,no ,' ' c. a. BABCOCK.
T OH civ. Penn. Aug "A, 1896.