The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-12-11
BIRD CENSUS PLANNED.
Huge Task Undertaken TO Show Need
OF Protecting Feathered Resources.

To save the crops, woods and waters
Of America for future Americans by pre-
serving the birds, without whose services
few growing things will survive on the
continent. is the object Of a special cam
paign that was begun in New York city
| recently. Al the request OF the leaders
OF the movement in Washington, the
National Association OF Audubon socie-
ties has enlisted in the general conserva-
| ton crusade with all Its working forces
that have for years lahored to this end.
As a first step TO show the rapid decline
in the feathered resources of the nation
census OF the game and forest birds OF
the entire country has today been pro
jected by the association.
Five of the leading ornithologlsts and
workers in the Audubon association have
been selected as a committee TO repre-
sent the important interests OF bird pro
lection i'm cooperation with the other
elements in the national conservation or
ganization. With William butcher,
president Of the National Association OF
Audubon societies. there will serve on
this committee Edward Howe Forbush,
who is in charge Of the asociation's New
England department. I. Gilbert Pearson
the head Of its Offices in the south,
Frank NJ. Chapman. leader in Audubon
field work, and DR.. T. $. Palmer. who Is
prominent in the government biological
survey, the department OF agriculture, as
well as an active member of the associa-
ton. With the assistance OF the authori-
ties at Washington this committee hopes
TO soon be ready to show the people OF
the United States some striking evi-
dences of the effect of bird butchery upon
their chief resources.
To take a complete census OF the game
and forest birds over every square mile
parded as one of the hardest tasks which
the Audubon workers have ever usder-
taken in their long history Of labors to
preserve the national bird life. Thou
sands of detailed question blanks are to
be sent to representatives and friends OF
the association the country over, as well
as to every known warden, ornithslogist
and official who is in touch with local
conditions. On the expert observations
o, this small army of bird lovers and ex,
perts comparative census will be based
which the Audubon officials feel sure
will show an appalling decrease in ma
lures feathered forces that insure life
to all crops and trees.
Forest fires such as devastated the
country this fall are declared to be re-
sponsible for wholesale destruction to
Americas bird races For every tree
consumed by the flames homes were lost
to breeding birds, while millions OF the
migratory nocks persisted because OF the
conhagration tits known that whole
regiments of the smaller species have in
many cases been confused and lost in the
smoke clouds of the burning regions.
when we have proven in this way
the tremendous and growing destruction
of bird life, which is now seriously
threatening the crops and general mate
rial welfare of every American, we be-
heve the whole country will come TO
support our work." sand William Dutch
er, president of the National. Association
of Audubon societies, at its headquarters
recently. ut is high time, that the people
of this country were made to realize the
prime economic Importance OF our efforts
to protect the nations bird resources
This | feel sure the proposed census Will
accomplish. Beyond the share in the
conservation movement which we have
undertaken, we shall continue to push
our other essential lines of work Just as
far as the very necessary help OF patriotic
citizens will permit