The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-07-10
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1918.
BIRDS N &

4 1t is not often that the sentimental
list and the practical man may work
shoulder to shoulder in a common
cause, but the movements for the pres
ervation Of forests and the protection
Of the birds afford arguments for both
classes.
That millions annually could be
saved to American farmers by the
preservation of forests as cover for
insectivorous birds, practically all or
nithologists and forest experts are
agreed.
Forestry and ORTHODOXY are sub
jects in which interest has only been
keenly awakened in the last decade.
Before that the crusaders for bird
protection were viewed more or less
in the light of fanatics.
But their philosophic warning has
taken root until today it has spread
even beyond the attention of the en-
frightened farmer. Audubon societies
abound everywhere and m~ilIionaires
are commencing to make bird life and
forestry their hobbies.
Motion picture companies are max
ing films of all the activities of the
federal forest service, including plant
ing, cutting timber, patrol and lookout
work. Already at least two f~re-hght-
ing movies are being exhibited.
Application has been received by the
government for a summer home colony
on the Shoshone national forest re-
serve in Wyoming. The plan is to
have a central assembly hall for comv
munity gatherings and a chautauqua
platform devoted to the interests of
forestry and bird life.
This week in Winnipeg the Cana
dian Forestry association is discuss
ing the question vital to all the domin-
ion farmers, hat of planting forests to
encourage birds. This spring, after
much agitation, congress enacted a
bird migratory law, the result of a
t~en-year struggle for this legislative
protection.
For years while John F. Lacey of
fIowa-the congressional pioneer of the
tmovement-was in the lower house he
-0OaolLL 90 ~ SSl Ill OuSA SuCu lGSlSld-
.tion as would give protection to all
~sfeathered warblers of the forest and
field-the English sparrow excepted
especially during the mating season.
Like all pioneers, Congressman
rLacey's path was not a bed of roses,
but his agitation made easier the way
for Senator Mclean and others who
came later. Considering the time and
lack of interest in such things
throughout the country and among his
colleagues, Mr.. Lacey must be credited
with pushing through some very eff
tcient measures protecting bird life.
That forestry and bird life as ma
:tional movements have passed through
their days Of small things and will
henceforth be important factors in the
national life are established facts.
Thanks for this is due those Jealous
workers, those lovers of the birds and
the trees, whose persistent efforts have
blossomed INTO realization.
A decade g birds were slaughtered
by millions upon millions to meet the
demands Of the great millinery marts
at fashions behest. Before it was
realized what was happening, thou
sands of species became extinct. With
the note of warning sounded by the
cry of alarm Of such eminent natural
lists as John Burroughs, Virginia
Sharpe Paterson, and the two Thomp-
son-Setons, the carnage and plumber
decreased.
Legislation along this line is yet in
complete-in fact it has only begun.
But bird and tree lovers are glad of
the progress that has so far been made
n American farmers will bless the
anne of those who have been lead
ers in the movement.
Since the enactment of the Mclean
bird migratory law such insectivorous
birds that have legal protection are
bobolinks, eatbirds, ~chickadees, cuck-
DOS, fycatehers, g~rosbeaks, humming
birds, kinglets, martins, meadow larks,
night hawks or bull bats, n%uthathes,
orioles, robins, shrikes, swallows,
swifts, hangers, titmice, thrushes,
vireos, warblers, waxwings, whippoor-
wills, woodpeckers, wrens, and all
other perching birds which feed en-
tirely or chiefly on insects.
The fight Of some of the earlier cru
saders is over, but new leaders are
rising in the movement. These re-
cruits, who lend popularity to the
cause, are among the country's mil :
lionaires, like Mrs. Finley Shepherd
(Helen Could, and Henry Ford, who
have thrown open vast stretches Of
virgin forests, which the birds may
claim for their undisturbed haunts.
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