Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
UDUBON SOCIETIES
HELP THAT BIRD
LOVERS CAN GIVE.
Urgent Need for Money in the Work
of the National Organi-
cation.

In the last four articles of this series
we have discussed the great necessity for
bird protection in this country, the history
of the Audubon societies, which are de-
voted chiefly TO the protection of birds, and
the splendid work being done by these So
cieties, not only in their respective states,
but along the coast and among the out
lying islands, through a national commit
tee, having an office al 525 Manhattan ave
nue., New York. This article, the last of
those dealing with the great Audubon
movement, 1 shall devote to the con-
sideration of the different ways In which
we can help this movement, which must
appeal, not only to every lover of birds, but
to every lover of fair play, and to every
one interested in the advancement of civil
lization and the prosperity of the country.
Begin by assuming that We have not
one red cent to spare with which to give
financial support to any movement. Never
mind; there are still very many ways in
which we can help the Audubon societies.
If We women, We may refrain from
wearing the plumage of birds in our hats,
and We may do and say what We can to
make this practice unpopular. If we are
men we 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
women or men, we can teach children the
value of birds, and show them that, looking
at the subject even from 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 helpless.
Chance for Teachers.
If we are teachers we can supplement
the work done by the parents We can put
ourselves in touch with the leaders of the
Audubon movement and see that our pupils
are well supplied with bird charts and with
the illustrated leaflets published from time
to time by the national committee, and OBJ
tain for them opportunities to attend Illus
trated lectures on birds. We can also d.
rect their attention to good books on birds,
to be found at the nearest public library,
and we can arrange matters so that per-
sonal observatio birds may form the
TOPICS of essays. If there is a museum ao~
cessible we may be able to take our classes
there occasionally, and now and then we
may be able to arrange for a walk in the
country for the purpose of getting ac-
quanted with the living birds. Children
are naturally fond of animals a rule,
but it is necessary to teach them that con-
sideration for an animal is more important
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 blue birds, wrens,
tree swallows and martins and it will have
a. good ell. On ala entire community IL
these house4 are put up in the school
grounds and in the gardens and yards of
the pupils themselves. Then. at the begin
ming of the winter the older pupils may
be organized into a relief corps to feed the
birds in the woods and fields; and almost
any one may enjoy the pleasure of having
birds about the house during the winter
months IL a little care is taken to keep
a variety of food where the hungry little
fellows can come for il without fear of
being moested. Every act of this kind
helps to create sentiment in favor of bird
protection, and sets a good example TO
those who have not yet come TO realize that
birds are w Jrth bothering with.
II we have even very litle money TO