Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-07-30
Rescuing the Robins.

After four years Of desp rate hight
ing the first battle for Robin Red
Breast has been won in Louisiana, the
heart of the section where this favorite
American song bird is butchered BY
the million for the market. That the
robin has at last been removed from
the list of game birds by the legisls-
ture of the Creole State was announced
few days ago at the headquarters OF
the National Association of Audubon
Societies As the first fruits Of per-
sistent campaign Of education in the
South, the officers Of the association
declare, their victory will mean the
saving of dollars worth Of crops for
eacc tiny carcass spared as tid.bit
for the gourmand
By close vote the law makers of
Louisiana have repealed the old game
bird law in which the robin was classed
as game and have deoreed no open
season for the wholesale destruction Of
the slightly species. million members
Of which were butchered for their
mouthfuls Of meat alone last year.
Only Texas and Alabama of all the
Southern States now possess similar
statutes, though it is declared that
sentiment in the South is becoming
generally aroused against the slaugh.
ter of these favorite birds of the coun-
try while they winter in lower lsti.
tudes.
That successful agriculture in this
country would become impossible and
vegetation soon be destroyed if the
robin and his brother birds were eI.
terminated has just been asserted by
Professor Henshaw Of the Biological
Survey, and the Audubon authorities
declare that his warning may come
too late if this victory for the robin is
not followed by general campaign to
preserve and even increase every such
race of birds. Scientific examinations
of hundreds Of robins has shown that
almost half Of their diet ID composed
of the insects that mean sure destruc-
ton to the tress aud crops OF the land.
These very insects, it has been proven,
damage the countrys crops to the eK-
tent oil $50O,0O0.000 annually, while
their added ravage of wood and stored
crops, it is calculated, rob the land OF
nearly a billion dollars each year.
Though insect pests are known to be
increasing, their natural destroyers,
the birds, are being gradually eIter-
minated at an alarming rate, it is de.
cared.
To open the eyes Of the public to
this crucial situation the National AS
sociation OF Audubon Societies has
been exerting its utmost resources for
years in a general educational cam.
paign. Encouraged by the results Of
this work for the robins in Louisiana,
the officers Of the association declare
that every means at their command
would be used throughout the country
to rouse the people to the value of the
dying trade.
"This is a time Of great emergency
ard the people must act at once by
preserving their bird resources, before
it is too late" said William Lutch,
president of the ASSOCIATION. 81 know
that some few people realize the grav-
ity Of the situation, for | sm receiving
contributions with letters asserting
that this work is second only in eco
nomic importance to forest preservs-
ton. We are trying to reach every
man, woman and child in this broad
land with the story Of our common
danger, and we want every bird over,
farmer and citizen Of any walk in life
to help Us push the enormous tack we
have undertaken for the economic
good OF every American