The Republican journal., 1914-05-21
BIRD CENSUS OF THE UNITED
STATES.
Bird Lovers are Invited to Send Data to the
Department to Aid in Game Preservation.

BHi Lovers are Invited to Send Data to the
Department to Aid in Game Preservation.
A census of all the birds of the United
States is suggested for this summer,
nd the department invites bird lovers
hr0ughout the country to cooperate in
taking it. The object is to determine
Tow many pairs of birds of each species
reea within definite areas. By compar
| ing these figures with those of subse-
nent censuses it will be possible to as
certain whether the present State and
Federal laws are effective and game and
nsectlvorous birds incre asing or dimin-
sang in numbers. Voluntary observers
le relied upon to furnish most of the de-
Mad data to the department.
As beginning the department has
asked about $50 correspondents through
out the country, who have previously
rendered valuable service, to follow
general outline in supplying information.
Anyone wishing to aid in this good work
scor1lally invited to send similar infor-
nation to the department.
The correspondents have been advised
nat the census of the birds should be
asen over some area that fairly repre-
sltS the average character of the coun-
fyln the Immediate neighborhood. The
.iea selected should represent average
lsfm'conditions, but without woodland;
Mould be not less than 40 acres Ia quarter
IA mile square) and not more than 80
sEeS and should include the farm build
lgS, shade trees, orchards, fields of
eG~ed land, and pasture.
II Is desired to take a census of the
p'rS Of birds actually nesting within the
ssscted area. Birds visiting the area
Nieeding purposes should not be count
y no matter how close their nests to
VI 0oundary lines.
It Is practically impossible to make
as census on the scale of 40 to 80 acres
SINGLE day. A plan which has been
N with advantage for several years is
regn at daylight some morning the
VI Of May, or the first week in June,
~ zgzag back and forth across the
a @a, counting the male birds of each
sscles. Early in the morning at that
maSOn every male bird should be in full
NY and easily counted. After the
1IgFatlon is over and the birds are set
%l In their summer quarters, it is safe
consider that each male represents q
Wedding pair.
me census of one day should be check
val rsnd revised by several days of further
s.lk. In order to insure that each bire
~, ~snls actually nesting within the aret
~ 10 make certain that no species hal
Fst overlooked.
NAY Both is about the proper date t.
Ss sln the census in the latitude of Wash
ssSn. In the latitude of Boston the
n, MIX should not begin until a week later
Son south of Washington an earlier dats
"SSald be selected.
Tue final results of the census should
s,. vent to the Biological Survey, De
CS'NSnent of Agriculture, Washington
W., about June 30th, and should b
N panied by statement Of the ex
ssS boundaries Of the selected area, de
IT, use 50 explicitly that it will be possible
MAR. sesfs hence to have the census re
af' Wa. The name of the present owne
NM Se land should be given, togethe
tas careful description of its charac
u. moulding statement whether th.
dry upland or moist bottom land
lumber Of acres in each.