Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-23
SCHOOL TO TEACH BIRD VALUE
Hugs Loss TO Crops May Thus BE
Saved-PeOpIe 20 BE shown
Proofs.

NEW YORK, Sept. 6-To save the natu-
raj wealth of America by educating its
people regarding the value Of Wild bird
life, as tho only sure check to the insect
pests that are rapidly devastating the
crops and woods of the country, IL the
object of a movement that was set on foot
in this city today. Headed by the Ma
tional Association Of Audubon Societies, a
campaign is to be begun in, every section
of the continent which II Is intended hall
result in the establishment Of a national
university devoted to the conservation Of
American resources through the preserva-
ton Of the pest-killing birds. Suitable en-
dowment for an educational Institution of
such vital economic Importance is to be at
once sought by officers OF the association.
To greatly extend the educational work
that is now being pushed with all the
funds at the command of the Audubon
workers is designed to be the main aim
Of the proposed national university. Skilled
ornithologlsts are to be employed in in
vestigating. compiling and Analysing scien-
tific data showing the capacity of various
| species OF wild birds for destroying such
pests as the Gypsy moth, the boil weevil
and the brown tail moth, whose ravages
have been proven to cost the country $780,
900, 900 in its crop yield each year. Men
and women lecturers, trained at the pro-
posed university, will be stationed in every
section of the continent to>present to the
people proofs Of their enormous loss in
agricultural wealth due solely TO lack Of
knowledge of the work done by the feath-
cred lnsect-eaters, that nature intended to
check crop plaques.
On the children Of the land, who Will
face this most pressing problem when bird
destruction has brought on an even more
appalling spread OF c~rop-killing insects, the
Audubon officials declare they must base
their hopes for the spread Of the gospel
OF conservation through the bird resources
Of the nation. Trained teachers are to be
assigned to conduct summer schools among
the teachers Of every region and through
them to reach the great body OF future
American citizens. The preparation and
extensive circulation OF illustrated. educa-
tional pamphlets on the economic uses Of
wild bird life Ia designed to be one OF the
chief activities of the new national insti-
tuition, as It is Of the National Association
OF Audubon Societies at present. Text
books treating OF all the local wild birds
will be published and Issued to every
school.
Nothing but the education OF the Amer
lean people on the value OF the wild birds
as crop and forest presCryers can now
avaiI to ward off the impending agrtcul-
tural devastation Of this land" said VIII
liam butcher, president OF the National
Association of Audubon Societies, at its
headquarters, ln Broadway. III some one
OF more persons of wealth desire to be-
stow upon their country the greatest pos
sible benefaction, now and for all time, no
better way could be devised than to endow
such a national university on conseryatOn
through bird life as we have projecteA-
We shall exert our best efforts to pre-
cure this extension OF the educational
work that we have been pushing for
years"