The Cairo bulletin., 1908-07-10
CHILDREN TO AID THE nIilDS.
A school Army Enlisting 10 Save
the ia ardians OF Crops.

the iiardians OF Crops.
On the millions OF school children
In Thu country final hope OF averting
the extinction OF the valuable insect
iNoroHs birds has been rested
What the Federal Government. the
state Legislatures, and even the
oranges. wolnen's clubs or national
commercial Organizations have failed
10 accomplish completely, the Ma
| tiun&l Association of Audubon socie-
ties have announced will be now CIV
/ In to the children of the Iani to
bring about. To organize every body
OF pupils from the largest New YORK
4 public school to the Sost remote dis
! trlct school - the Pacific coast into
general movement for housing,
I feeding and protecting the wild birds
that save the COuntry's crops is the
obje' OF the Audubon workers
General headquarters for this new
campaign are being established IN he
Offices OF the National Association OF
Audubon Societies. at No. I4l
Broadway, New York. Already the
organization is in touch With thous-
ands o, teachers ana girls aud boys
Gibbs throughout the country, to
which ii has regularl,' sent literature
on bird guarding and care, With
these as nucleus, the children are to
pusl the fglt until the members OF
each school in every neighb)rhool
are enlisted in the work OF building
bird houses and restaurants" to sus-
tain the sadly thinned ranks OF the
feathered army OF insect destroy
ers Special ammunition In the form
Of printed directions and suggestions
for making bird shelters ami lunch
counters" is being prepared for every
boy and girl who will write and ask
for it,
Od kettles, boxes, or mix, o.
mato and kerosene cans, are being
used by the children as emergency
bird shelters Elaborate houses, rus
tic limitations of hollow limbs. and
neatly furnished apartments are also
being planned. All must be male
cat-proof, and should face 10 the
south or west If possible The feath-
cred pair who will seek quarters for
rearing their families In the spring
will re particular In their tastes II
they find no promising spot for a
h~me in any locality, they will pass
on AMI leaves its fields and gardens
at the mercy of the insects The
chillre are urged 70 the immediate
bui ing OF houses for this seasons
bird families, because seasoned and
weather beaten structures most
quickly tempt the birds when spring
moving day comes.
Ornthologists declare that the
march OF civilization has robbed mil
lions of useful, a. well as slightly and
tunefui, birds of their old time facili-
ties for home making. Sheltering
tree trunks are being laid low every
year over hundreds OF acres. The
old fashioned structures, where birds
migh t flock under open caves, are be-
ing replaced by modern roots that
sh It out bird life. Whole races. IKE
the chimney swifts, are being de-
prived of their shelter In the big,
old-style chimnies
Ich conditions, combined with Lax
laws for spring shooting and pot
hunting, may drive the valuable in
sent eaters TO extinction 1t will he
the chidrens work TO house the
evicted birds at the time when they
not only rear their young, but eat
most copiously of the insect crop-je-
stroyers
The children are now the great
factor in this economic movement,
said William butcher, president OF
the National Association Of Audubon
Societies. rot only their patriotism
lut the self-interest of every one OF
t5ei- parents is the motive for pre-
venting the extinction OF the beauti-
full and highly vauable birds Of this
cou ry. We are calling on Con
gr~s the State Legislatures. and on
everv adult body to help; bur be-
ievn the work OF the school children
will accomplish more than than all
tn other m thods combr ed. L s
fine chance for every boy and gin
T. d something for his village, State,
and he country at large, and | know
they will net neglect TO do their
part Save the birds is the motto
ard rallying cry"