The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-10-14
To Teach Bird Value.
National University Planned by Audubon
Workers. Huge Loss to Crops May Thus
be Saved.

National University Planned by Audubon
Workers. Huge Loss to Crops May Thu.
| be Saved.
| NEW YORK, October II, 1909. To save
the natural wealth of America by edu-
eating its people regarding the value Of
wild bird life, as the only sure check to
the insect pests that are rapidly devas-
tatlng the crops and woods of the coun-
try, is the object of movement that
has been set on foot in this city. Headed
by the National Association of Audubon
Societies, campaign is to be begun in
every section of the continent which it
IS intended shall result in the establish
ment of a national university devoted
to the conservation of American re-
sources through the preservation of the
pest-killing birds. Suitable endowment
for an educational institution of such
vital economic Importance is to be at
once sought by officers of the associa-
ton.
10 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 ornithologists are to be employed
in investigating, compiling and Analysing
scientific data showing the capacity of
various species of wild birds for destroy
ing such pests as the gypsy moth, the
boil weevil and the brown tail moth,
whose ravages have been proven to cost
the country one billion dollars in its crop
yield each year. Men and women lee
turers, trained at the proposed UNIVERSE
ty, will be stationed in every section of
the continent to present to the people
proofs of their enormous loss in agricul-
tural wealth due solely to lack of knowl-
edge of the work done by the feathered
insect-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 crop-killing in
sects, 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 citi-
zens. The preparation and extensive
circulation of illustrated, educational
pamphlets on the economic uses of wild
bird life is designed to be one of the chief
activities of the new national institution,
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
American people on the value of the
wild birds as crop and forest preservers
can now avail to ward off the impending
agricultural devastation of this land,"
said William butcher, president of the
National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties, at it's headquarters, al Broadway,
today. eff some one or more persons
of wealth desire to bestow upon their
country the greatest possible benefac-
ton, now and for all time, no better way
could be devised than to endow such ma
tional university on conservation through
bird life as we have projected. We shall
exert our best efforts to procure this ex
tension of the educational work that we
have been pushing for years."