Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-14
Many Birds Perish
in Storm; Audubon
Society to Rescue
Sportsmen Who Know Haunts and
Habits of Festhered Life Lead
Bands Of Boys.

NEW YORK Feb 12.-(Specisl )-Mur-
derous weather conditions are now driv-
ing to death huge flocks Of the song and
game birds OF the country, according 70 re-
ports that have been received today at the
headquarters OF the National Association
OF Audubon societies in this city. Follow
Ing the sweep OF the recent blizzard from
coast TO coast, great tracts Of trees and
land are known to be storm-locked against
the feathered life that must seek. shelter
and food from the natural sources that are
now held in the icy grip OF winter. Unless
emergency measures are speedily taken to
succor these birds that protect the crops
from pests and furnish the game supply Of
the nation, ornithologists declare today that
serious loss to the wild resources Of Amer
lea will result
Careful count OF the birds that persisted
in similar storm six years ago over an
area of southern Minnesota and northern
Idaho has showed that in one night alone
some 10000 were frozen or starved to death.
Many millions more are this year doomed
to death in the freezing spell that has sue
ceeded the SHOWS Of this month. the Audu-
bon workers assert
Calling upon the children of the land to
save the storm belesguered birds, the Audu-
bon organization has today set on foot a
sweeping relief campaign in which the
boys and girls Of every community are be-
ing invited to join. Special pamphlets Civ
ing minute instructions for the feeding OF
birds under every condition Of winter
weather have been prepared and are be-
ing sent to volunteer brd-saving brigades
OF youngsters in every section of the coun-
try. Through It's member organizations in
a score Of storm-bound states the National
Association OF Audubon Societies is urging
immediate local campaigns to preserve the
dying bird life Of each neighborhood
Sportsmen who know the haunts and
habits of the native birds are heading
bands Of boys who are already setting out
through the woods and fields of their home
regions. equipped with shovels, picks. cord,
wire and big bags Of grain, suet and fat
meat. At natural feeding grounds the
snow is cleared from the ground and grain
or bird seed scattered in sufficient guam
tity to tide over the storm spell all the
birds that are starving in the vicinity. For
the insectiverous species, nourishing fat
meat is carefully tied at conspicuous points
IN the trees along the route. Bird bread
lines In each school yard and food scat
tered where the birds flock about every
house are also recommended as a part of
the Audubon emergency campaign.
We shall exert ourselves. as we have
during recent hard winters, to save the
storm-stricken birds Of this country with
every means at our disposal" said T. q.
Pearson, secretary OF the National Associa-
ton Of Audubon Societies, at it's headuuar-
ters, Hl Broadway, today. IF each Amer
lean will help us in this emergency rescue
compaign, ] feel sure great good can be
accomplished in prolOnging the life Of the
birds that will in the new year form our
only fighting force against crop plague and
agricultural disaster. We are raising funds
and furnishing instructions with which we
hope soon to materially aid the perishing
birds all over the continent"