The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-04-22
TO SAVE THE BIRDS
WAYS IN WHICH ALL MAY
HELP IN WORK.
The Audubon Societies Represent a
Worthy Object in Which We
May All Help If Only
a Tride.

" AAAAC
There is no more laudable object to
which we may lend our efforts than
that of saving the birds. The Audubon
societies are doing a great and good
work in. this direction, and in this We
may all help-but how?
l will tell you of some way:
II We are women, we may refrain.
from wearing the plumage of birds in
our hats, anG We may do and say what
We can to make this practice unpop-
ular. Ii we are men, we can refrain
from killing any feathered creature
without SOME good and urgent reason
for doing SO, and we can stand firmly
behind those laws which are framed
for the protection of birds and their
nests and eggs. Whether we are wom-
en- or men, We can teach children the
value Of birds, and show them that,
looking at the subject even from a
selfish point of view, there is more
knowledge and greater pleasure to be
gained from one living bird than from
a score Of dead ones. We can teach
them, also, that the collection of birds
eggs by small boys is as useless as it
is cruel and wasteful, and we can help
them to cultivate an interest in their
wild neighbOrs which will not involve
the pain or the destruction of the help
less. II We are teachers, we can sup
plement the work done by the par
ents. We can put ourselves in touch
with the leaders Of the Audubon move
ment, and see that u pupils are we'll
supplied with bird-charts, and with the
illustrated leaflets published from time
TO time by the national committee.
and obtain for them opportunities to
attend illustrated lectures on birds.
We can also direct their attention to
good books on birds, to be found at
the nearest public library, and we can.
arrange matters SO that personal OBJ
servations on birds may form the top-
les of essays. If there is a museum &C
cessible, we may be able to take our
classes there occasionally, and now
and then we may be able to rrange
for a walk in the country, for the pur-
pose of getting acquainted with the
living birds. Children are naturally
fond of animals as a rule, but it is
necessary to teach them hat consid-
~ IN " LIZ II ID 1lotC AlpC y"
tant than the possession of it.
At this season, the boys, and The
girls, too, sometimes, may be taught
how to make simple bird houses for
the bluebirds, wrens, tree-swallows
and martins, and it will have a good
effect on an entire community if these
houses are put up in the school
grounds, and in the gardens and yards
of the pupils themselves. Then. at he
beginning of the winter, the older pu~
pills may be organized into a relief
corps, to feed the birds in the woods
and fields; and almost anyone may
enjoy the pleasure of having birds
about the house during the winter
months, if a little care is taken to keen
a variety of food where the hungry lit
tie fellows can come for it without fear
of being molested.
If we lave even a very little money
to spare for birds, we can do our part
for the cause by joining the nearest.
branch Of u state Audubon society,",
or, it there is no branch near US, we
can talk the matter over with others
who are interested n arrange to
have a branch organization in our own
town or village. Then there are many
of us who, in addition to the small
amount necessary to pay our dues to-
the state Audubon society, can afford
a little more to help the great work
being done along the coast and else
where by the national committee,
which has recently been incorporated
under the name of the National Asso-
citation of Audubon Societies of Amer
lea. In spite of it's good prospects,
this committee is at the present time
badly handicapped for want of funds.
With the means at it's disposal, it has
done much splendid work in legisla-
lures, n has effectively protected,
and is still protecting, many interest
ing and valuable colonies of sea birds,
which are being more or less rapidly
ex~terminated by egg n plume hunt
erS. But there are many more %cOiOnle
to protect, and new wardens will be
employed tor this purpose if only the
necessary money is forthcoming to en-
able the committee to employ them.
Last of all, if we happen to be
wealthy, and We desire to bequeath a
part of our fortune to some very
worthy institution, where would it do
more good than in the hands Of the
national committee of the Audubon
society, where it would be used to
protect American birds and animals
and their descendants, for the profit
of the American people forever?
n HAROLD BAYNES.