St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-12-27
The Audubon Society of
Louisiana.

Louisiana.
The Audubon society of l.ouisi-
ana has recently been organized and
the following officers elected: E.
A. Mel lhenny, Jr., President;
Frank NJ. Miller, Vice President;
James I. Hayden. Treasurer; Miss
Anita Prlng, Secretary.
The Society has for ,ts aims the
following purposes:
l. To promote an abiding in
terest in birds and in the study of
ornithology.
2. 10 impart information re-
specting the economic value Of
birds to agriculture, and their gen.
eral importance to the welfare Of
man.
3. To labor for legislation for
the protection OF our birds and their
nests and eggs and haunts, and to
see that all such laws are enforced.
4. To discourage the wearing
of feathers, except those of domes-
tic fowl aud of the ostrich.
5. To encourage and provide, so
far As practicable, for the education
of children and adults upon any
aud all of the aforementioned sub
jects.
The Society calls attention to
the address made by MIR. Miller at
It's first meeting.
.sTo address the members OF an
Audubon society affords me great
deal of satisfaction, for the organi-
zatlon of this society ls practical
reply to the bird despoilers, who
frustrated the attempt at the last
meeting OF the Legislature to pass
bill for bird protection. A, the
request of the American Ornitholo-
gists' Union and United States De-
partment of Agriculture a bill was
introduced in the Legislature, but
was defeated by the efforts of the
bird dealers of this city, aided by
the indifference and open antagon-
ism of the members from this
| parish. 1t was then seen that to OBJ
tain an efficient bird protective law
there must be a public sentiment
back of such a measure in hearty
accord with it's provisions 10 Gre
ate that sentiment this society has
been organized. and there is plenty
Of work for any one connected with
it to aid in carrying out its
aims and purposese. We have as
president a gentleman who is the
foremost authority IN this country
on the water birds of North Amerl-
ca, fit successor in the field of
ornitnology to Louislana's great
son, Audubon, after whom our
society Is named. Our treasurer
is deeply interested III bird protec-
ton, and, having the true spirit.
will aid in every manner in OBJ
tanning recognition for us Ill the
prominent and powerful circles i'll
which he moves.
ssBut IN addition to efficient man
ayement we need active workers
everywhere, and l Suggest that our
first efforts We made to get the
school children from Caddo to
Orleans interested in our work.
The study of bird life appeals with
singular fascination to the young,
and to lead them by wise ways into
the threshold of this science is to
give the keenest delight; every tree
hides a mystery, the field, the
swamp, the forest. the shore, the
broad expanse of water, have their
winged inhabitants, each with a
different life story, the study of
which leads the child into habits
of close observation and discrimi-
nation that remains throughout the
later life. We want the aid Of
every newspaper in the State. The
men who interpret the thoughts
and desires of the people are al.
ways ready to give their best eff
forts to such a noble cause. had
lively and pleasant experience OF
this when the subject Of bird pro-
lection was before the recent Leg.
islature. l saw the editors of all
the daily newspapers published in
our city. They received me with
kindly courtesy and freely opened
their columns to say good word
for the cause. One of them warn
ed the members of the Legislature
that if they did not give the farm
ers and planters such aid they
would eventually be called upon
to pay for the loss Of the crops due
to the rapid disappearance of the
birds, which are wisely ordained
to keep down the insect pests,
which would otherwise destroy
them.
awe want the assistance of our
State legislators and of every MEM
Der of Congress from this State.
Bird protection is becoming of ma.
tional Importance, and we want
our Representatives to be IN posi-
ton to intelligently vote upon
such measures as will be presented
to them. The rapid disappearance
of game animals and game birds
suggests that measures should i'm
med,atly be taken to preserve
what Is left by requesting the State
Government TO Give not Oniv ade.