The Delawarean. [volume] (Dover, Del.) 1859-1927, 1900-04-14
Another Plea For Birds.

AT thls time, when the press, clubs
and the public generally condemn the
killing of our native birds; it seems an
appropriate pime to teach more about
birds.
We, teachers. with the help of the
pupils, could plan for a Bird Day" ON
some afternoon in April or May We
could lead our pupils to observe some
familiar bird or birds. Have frequent
talks on the habits of our s0ngsters.
Have written work from the higher
grades. Colored pictures of birds may
be purchased from the Perry Picture
Company, Boston, Mass, for two cents
each. These are attractive and add
much beauty to the decoration for
spring in our school rooms. | am con-
tident the pupils will become Interested
in the study of birds. witch an enthu-
siastic teacher
Mabel Osgood Wright says: "iDo you
want 10 know the birds and call them
by their familiar names? You may do
so. if you will. provided you have keen
eyes and pocket full of patience. The
flowers silently await your coming and
study With birds it is only a Turing
call. a scrap of melody and they are
gone Yet i'm spite of this you may
have bowling and speaking acquaint-
ance with them"
The following suggestions are given
by the above writer: Begin near at
home; go to the garden first, then to
THE wood or marsh bordered wood
Do not attempt too much at one quest
for birds
Any teacher may suggest different
ways for the observation of birds
Know this, that the observation gained
will repay the owner Thousand fold.
How the coming of the robin foretells.
Spring is coming" What joy and
melody is given us by our feathered
friends. What associations their
songs awaken. Lead the pupil TO see
and admire the beauty of the bird on
the wing to observe its beautiful plum
age, to distinguish its sweet carols.
All these are silent forces which make
life pure and fuller for our pupils.
Space is the dwelling place of the
birds and color their heritage. and how
dreary earth would be without them.
A world without birds, their color.
motion music missing" The strange
sweet life of the bird is different from
all else we have considered If is moro
like our own. There is highly COM
plicated mechanism of form, and more
than all, quick intelligence. which
places the bird high up in the scale of
animal life
IL may be that love for birds gained
IN youth may be am incentive for orr
boys to remain on the farms in Della
ware; and, Joined with this hone. for
the coming century, is the wish that
our girls may discard every bit of bird
trimming for hat and bonnet. Our poets
have not been silent witnesses of birds.
Indeed, many beautiful poems are fire.
quently enriched by some tribute to a
bird
Hoping that this little talk on birds
may arouse a greater love for nature
work and that the seed may fall on
good ground. l will close by quoting
the pretty lines from Alice Cary:
And when the winter is over.
The boughs will get new leaves.
The quail come back to the clover.
And the swallows back to the caves.
The robin will wear ON his bosom,
A vest that is bright and new.
And the loceliest wayside blossoms
Will shine in the sun and the dew"
EMMA V. NEWNOM
Pennington, Del.
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