Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-04-04

toag VI a~
In schools of the National Capital,
Especially In Primary Glasses.
The Washington public schools have
taken up the study Of native American
song birds. and from now until the
close of the term in June the scholars,
especially those in the primary classes,
will be engaged in the work, says the
Washington Post. The teachers them
selves are scarcely less enthusiastic
about the study, while the birds, as
though to facilitate the course, are
tloeking into the parks Of the city in
larger numbers than ever before in
the history of the capital. The study
of bird life was taken up in the
schools some time ago and since its
introduction has been very successful.
1t has been found advantageous in
training the beginner In observation,
for which a special effort is made jim
the lower grades. The actual advent
of spring weather a few days ago re-
suited in what might be termed field
work. and every few days the tots
are taken into the parks to have point
ed out to them the difference between
the sparrow and the crow and the
robin and the humming bird.
A significant fact brought out by the
increased interest being taken in bird
life in the public schools of the city Is
that the English sparrow is rapidly
giving way to the songsters, which the
foreigner once succeeded in driving
from the large centers. and from state
ments made by experts in the Smith
sonian institution and watchmen in the
public parks, who have ample opportu-
nifty to study nature at first hand, the
song birds are beginning to regain the
ascendency once lost to the ubiquitous
sparrow.
1t is claimed by those who have
studied the question hat the section
of the country about Washington in
particular is slowly, but surely, get
ting rid of the English sparrow, and
the advent of the warbler, the thrush.
bluebird and other native members of
the feathered tribe has been hailed
with delight. In all the big parks and
reservations of the city even the ob-
server may note the frequency with
which the robin is seen, while other
birds. woodpeckers, redbirds and many
more, which for years could not be
found except in inaccessible woods,
are now apparently forsaking the
country for Uncle Sans enormous ex-
panse of fertile and cultivated acres of
public domain in the heart of the CAPT.
tai.
1.-THE signs are very promising at
present" said a student of bird life he
other night, for the return to Wash
ington and, in fact, other of the large
cities in the east of many of the ma
tive American song birds one driven
out and to all appearances externi-
mated by the fighting, quarrelsome
English sparrow. Among those who
have taken an interest in the matter it
has beer observed for some time that
the sparrow is 40 longer king of the
walk and ,that the other birds have
either regained their courage and de
termined TO fight to the bitter end or
the sparrow has lost a great deal OF
his ~belligerent spirit.
"All possible encouragement should
be given to the song birds, and it
would be a good thing and in the long
u would pay if some attention were
given to the matter officially. Nests
could be built for the songsters, and
some of them might be brought here
Washington and placed in the big
parks surrounding the public buildings
In the Mall, where they would soon
make their homes, returning from year
to year. The experiment of placing
squirrels in the capitol grounds has
been very successful, and these pretty
little creatures. protected by the law,
have become thoroughly accustomed
to their preserves. They have multi.
piled rapidly and have become very
tame.
.With the sons birds the expert
mehts would of course be different.
do not believe. however, that the i'm
portation of birds is necessary. There
is every indication that the pretty song
StprS VIII soon De VIII US al uulhpcAs
and that they will take the place in our
parks held so long by the homely
brown sparrow.
1.-THE birds have already begun to ar
rive. The first warm breezes from
across the Potomac brought them in
numbers. and any day many of the
most graceful and beautiful of the
feathered vocalists may be seen in the
mall. the capitol grounds or any of the
larger parks. Garfield park, one of the
least known and most beautiful reser-
vations in the city, is practically full
of song birds, which seem to hole pos
session without dispute from the pug
nacious sparrow. The first TO arrive
were the bluebirds. This year more
have arrived than ever before. The
| explanation is most satisfactory to
lovers of birds. They have come be
II evidently there were found to be
vacancies in Washington for them, and
-. -o.roI mon tho nn~aninoG like