The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-04-23
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. f. LARSON.
(From the Arbor Day Annual)
THE AUDUBON SOCIETY.

| llOu. his drtlcle Is 10 SET lOrtn some
of its methods, especially such as apply
to schools. 1t is particularly important
that the work of the Audubon Society
be brought before the pupils of the
schools, because not only is that the
time of life when impressions are strong
est and when tendencies develop, but
also every boy may, through a lack of
proper training, be very destructive
enemy of bird life. We hope to see the
time when parents will consider spy
glass better present for their son than
an air gun.
Largely through the efforts of the
Audubon Societies, there is hardly a
state in the Union but has some string.
ent laws for the protection of birds.
Let us also work for the encouragement
ox bird life. The destruction of forests
has taken away the natural building
places of many species. Almost every
householder insists upon keeping one or
more semi domesticated totally worth
less cats, everyone of which destroys a
number of birds each year. If we en-
ty, some of us have very queer way of
showing our appreciation,
1t is the aim of the Audubon Society
to spread by all available means know
ledge Of bird life which will lead to IA
clearer idea of their worth. Some of the
means adopted are as follow: Circulars
are distributed 10y the Society to those
known to be interested. A set of color
ed lantern slides together with a type
written lecture may be rented for "a
small amount from w 5. Marshall, Ia
L. Gorham St, Madison, Wis. The or
ganizaton of school branches of the
Audubon Society is encouraged. Any
Wisconsin School Branch may, without
expense, have the use Of the Gordon and
Merrill libraries of bird books by apply
ing to Thos. r. Moyle, Appleton, Wis
Every Wisconsin School Branch is re
quired to subscibe for at least one copy
of the magazine by the Wayside
published jointly by the Wisconsin and
Illinois Audubon societies. This maga-
zine is published at Appleton monthly
during the school year. Its subscription
price is the very modest sum of twenty
five cents. The "Wayside' is devoted
primarily to birds, bird protection, and
bird encouragement, and secondly to
nature study in general. There is ma
ture study department in charge of DR..
, Ruth Marshall of the University of Neb-
raska, III which, at present she is Civ.
ing an outline of a course in nature
study. There is chldrens depart.
ment in charge of Miss Edna S. Ed
wards of Appleton. In this department
are published letters from our younger
members, We award an honor badge
each month for the best letter, prefer
ence being given to original observa
tlOns
In spite of the fact that coultry child.
rem are in close touch with nature, they
study it least The farmer too il the
one most benefited by the birds; yet he
is unlikely to be their enemy We are
therefore especially anxious that our
magazine, the work of the Audubon So
ciety in general, should reach the rural
schools
THOMAS X, MOYLE,
Appleton, Wis.
There should be greater intelligence
regarding the value Of birds, In order
to bring about such intelligence it is
necessary to introduce the work to some
extent into the schools
Birds are friends Of farmers and gar
deners. Too often only their bad qualit
les are known Superficial observers
see birds eating fruit or grain and there
fore regard them only rs enemies The
principal food of birds, however, consists
of insects worms and seeds of weeds.
In destroying yearly millions of these
they are beneficial.
Scientists have Investigated the matter
of bird food and have prepared tables
showing what birds eat and the relative
value of birds IA insect destroyers can
thus be studied. Bulletins and circu-
lars have been issued by the T.. s. De.
partment Of Agriculture and these may
be had free.
The English Sparrow il our ornitho
logical pest. II was originally import
ed for the purpose Of destroying the in.
Sects infesting the trees in Central Park
New York, and has now spread over the
entire eastern half of the country Tn.
fortunately fashion and reason do not
60 hand in hand otherwise some one
might substitute these pests ~ head
gear decoration in place Of the many use
full birds which are now slaughtered an
uually. The English sparrow should be
destroyed ~ 1t keeps away the song
sters and useful birds Those who 90
sparrow hunting however, should know
the difference between the English spar.
row and other gray birds. The chip.
ping sparrow, the song sparrow, the
swamp sparrow, the horned lark and
the bay winged bunting are all gray
birds but are cur friends and should no,
be molested
A great change regarding the attitude
toward birds has come over this coun.