The Minneapolis journal., 1902-09-04
INTERESTING BIRD PROGRAM.
Officers Of Audubon Society Discuss Prog
of Work.

Officers Of Audubon Society Discuss Prog
ress of Work.
The bird program given yesterday after
noon at the federation building proved
one of the most entertaining exercises ar
ranged by the women for the week. 1t
was under the auspices Of the State Audu-
bon society, whose president, Mrs. Mary
D. Akers. and secretary, Miss Sarah l..
Putnam, were speakers.
Miss Putnam told Of the splendid results
accomplished by the society, which is or
ganizing school children in bird protection
societies, and Is observing Bird Day. as
holiday, with suitable exercises Miss
Putnam told Of the decline in the use of
song birds for millinery, due to the aroused
interest in birds. Mrs. Akers gave a
thoughtful paper on ''The Food of Birds"
Mrs. Emma F. Benson Of Lake City ad-
vocated radical measures in getting rid Of
English sparrows, advising the destruc-
ton OF their nests and feeding them poi
son after the other birds had gone in the
fall.
In personal and informal talks in resi-
sponse to questions, Mrs. A. j. Hudson
who Is in charge Of the exhibit of birds
nests in the federation building, is doing
splendid work in creating and fostering
an intelligent interest In bird study. Mrs.
Hudson represents a group of Lake CITY
women that has been studying the birds
of that locality and has succeeded in in
IN securing the cooperation of all its
citizens in protecting the birds. An in
stance or destruction Of nests or other
cruelty to birds is certain to be reported
TO some Of the women actively interested
and the displeasure of the whole commun
aty is SO marked that the offender who
would repeat such an act would need tc
be one wholly hardened to general con-
tempt.
Ihe most interesting evidence of the
changed attitude Of the town toward birds
is the entire disappearance of birds as
MAnnery adornments. The refusal of al
D1rd lovers to countenance the wearing o
any kind Of plumage sets the milliners a.
1helr wits ends, but they can and dc
una satisfactory substitutes
Not all or the women who have given
up olrd ornaments are interested in birds
put they have been unable to withstand
@nnuentlal public opinion. Those who
persisted IN wearing aigrettes were made
so conscious and uncomfortable by the
comments or the merely reproving glance:
1hat they could take no comfort
one OF the interesting observations O.
the Lake City bird students this season
IS that all Of the birds have moved thetl
houses up a story, all varieties buildins
much higher than usual this season. Mar
tln and wren houses have afforded Mrs
hudson many opportunities for close ant
delightful acquaintance with her birt
netghbors. This feature Of bird study ha.
been the prevailing one with her this sea
son, as she had already formed a passins
acquaintance with the varieties that hay
been in the habit Of freuuenting LAX,
City. winter device for attracting bir,
1leighbors, adopted by Mrs. Hudson, is t.
fasten a piece of suet on a bough nea
q window. This was visited regularly las
year by downy woodpeckers, blueiays an
nut hatcherS.
Among the varieties of nests show
in the collection are those of the son,
sparrow. built on the ground Of grass
and the yellow headed blackbird, a dee
nest of grass woven around rushes. TIL
barn swallows nest Of mud, each quill O
which represents a journey for materia
is curious. Bob Whites nest coul
hardly be distinguished from a careless
ly scattered wisp of hay, but it shelters
thirteen eggs. twelve Of which matched
The quail resembles the domestic fowl i
the fact that the downy nestlings are abl
to take care Of themselves and feed them
selves as soon as they are hatched. Th
same is true of little partridges.
An interesting group Of nests include
those of the wood pewee, blue gna
catcher and humming bird. These ar
alike in construction, but differ greatly
size. They are very even and close, wove
, of roots and threads, and on the outsid
are glued small bits Of lichen put o
as even and carefully as in an embroio
cry pattern
Mrs. Hudson also has specimens Of til
native Minnesota varieties Of oaks. I
which she has been giving special after
ton. 49,