Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-11
WAYS OF THE ROBIN
OFFER A SPLENDID FIELD FOR
ORIGINAL RESEARCH.
Even Ornithologists Know Compare
lively Little About This
Common Bird.

There are few of our WILD birds more
numerous or of wider general distribution
than the robin, and for this reason the
robin Is one of the very best birds for the
nature student to begin on; he will be able
to compare his notes with those of his fell
lew student all over the country. OF course
everybody can tdertify the robin, but even
the leading ornithologists know compare
lively little about him. Ask one of them
| the average age to which the robin lives,
whether the robins which nested in his
town last year are the same which are
nesting there this year, or any one of a
dozen simple questions and you will get an
idea of what a splendid field for original
research is presented in the life of even the
best-known of our wild creatures
The average person can devote but a
small portion of his time to the study of
birds. and, as the field of bird-study is
practically limitless. his general knowledge
of birds must necessarily be very very linn
1ted If, however, he chose to devote most
OF the time he has for this subject to a
single species, by preference a common spe-
cies, such as he would not have to waste
much time in hunting for, his chances of
doing original, useful work would be good.
= 1t would be still better If a number of
people. the more the merrier, would agree
to devote themselves to the observation of
birds of one species. Their combined eff
ornithology, would probably result in but
very small additions to science, but If
brought to focus, say on robins, the data
accumulated in the course of year or two
would in all likelihood, be very valuable,
and the people themselves, instead of be-
longing to vast army, each member of
| which has a smattering of knowledge con-
corning birds in general, might easily be
the leading authorities in the world on the
particular species to which they had given
their attention.
Would Save the Birds.
If this plan of bird-study were adopted
| in the schools, 1t would also have another
advantage; 1t would tend to save the nests
of the rarer birds in any particular locality
from the visits Of enthusiastic but often
very thoughtless youngsters who might
get just much pleasure, and perha DIS
more instruction, by studying the nest OF
one of the commoner birds. Some of the
rarer birds are very shy, and where q
band of school children undertake to visit,
even occasionally, the nest of a bird which
is perhaps the only one of it's kind in the
township, the chance of that birds coming
back the following year is very slight, even
| If 1t is so fortunate as to rear it's young
which is doubtful. On the other hand, II
1t is a robins nest which is the object OF
| study, the parent birds will stand any rea-
sonable number of visits without neglecting
| the eggs or young. And even If they did
neglect them, sad as 1t would be, the harm
| done would be less than 1t would If fam
| lily of rare birds had persisted. And it Is
very probable that wide knowledge Of a
| single species, gained from the experiences
| of a great many people In different parts OF
the country, would be found most useful
| in the study of birds in general.
And come to think of it, why should we
not organize a national club whose object
| it shall be to make a careful study of the
robin? Suppose we try 1t. Any bird-lover
| interested in the suggestion can show his
| or her interest by sending to my address
Newport, New Hampshire, a postal card,
with name and address, and the name
which seems most suitable for such club.
We will adopt that name which seems best
to the greatest number and if no two are
alike we will call it the National Robin
Club There need be no initiation fee or
dues, In the beginning at any rate, but
any one desiring to Join must signify will
| lingness to study carefully the nest Of at
least one pair of robins a year as long as
he or she is member. II the members 30
| desire, 1 will act as secretary for the time
being; in which case all members will be
expected to send me their notes as soon as
they are as complete as possible. At the
end of the season, will go over all these
notes. and publish the results In an article
Of this series. Each member will then be
|. able to compare his or her notes with the
notes Of other members from Maine to
California.
A Course Of Study.
For the beneft Of those who SO far have
] had no experience in studying birds. WIN