The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-20
TO Wtttt CAMPAIGN
TO SAVE SONG BIRDS
Audubon Society Says Italian in North
and Negro In South Arc Feathercd
Tribes Greatest Foe.
MANY UsELEssLY SACRIFICED
Public Sentiment to be Educated for
the Protection OF the Nations Bird
Life-Morc Than 10000 Children
Now Members of Audubon Society.

New York, Nov. l9-The Audubon
societies. which have already checked
the killing of native birds for milli-
merry purposes. now purpose to stop
the slaughter of song-birds for food.
The two greatest enemies Of the small
bird are the negro in the South and
the Italian in the North, according to
T. Gilbert Pearson, secretary of the
National Association of Audubon So
cieties. who is devoting his life to the
conservation OF bird-life
Millions of small birds In migra
ton are destroyed yearly by the peo-
Pile of the Southern States and used as
food" said Mr. Pearson, at the office
of the Audubon Societies, 1874 Broad =
way, today This destruction, now
increasing. is having serious effect on
the number Of song birds in the North
Negroes are armed with guns, and
many are prolific in other means of
destruction. In the North, large num-
hers OF foreign laborers, coming from
Europe. Kill small birds for food. Ii
is only recently that little birds were
soli in large quantities in New York
city, and they are still sold by thou
sands in the South.
Prevent Song Bird Sacrifice.
The prevention of the slaughter
OF song birds Is stupendous task.
1t must be done By educating the pub
lie through the schools. the press and
the clergy, In order that better laws
and better enforcement of the laws
now on the statute brooks may be used.
.f DC. "a.
for this purpose.
The scarcity of robins, bluebirds
and bobolinks Ia becoming noticea bic
over the Wide areas We try to reaC h
the public in every way possible. and
1t takes great amounts of money to
do it. One way is by issuing circulars
and circulars are expensive.
Take our Junior Audubon Society,
for example over $4,000 children
belong to the various branches of that
all ever the country. and last year
chiid paying ten cents year; but |
spent over $4,000 supplying them
with educational literature.
Each one receives button as Il
badge and ten beautifuily-illustr
leaflets, which the child cannot help
being interested in, and about which
he goes to his parents or his teacher
Each leaflet treats of some one bird
and Is accompanied by q eolored plate
showing picture Of that bird, drawn
by the best artist we can get. and
printed by the most expensive process
These leaflets have done an enormous
amount of good.
Then We have established Is 500
Audubon clubs all over the coun.-~
and these clubs haV@ total member
ship OF sonnet hing near half a million.
And the association keeps in touch
with all these clubs"
The association is making special
effort TO raise 100000 to carry on
its educational work. and is irving
to enroll sustaining members d an
annual fee of $500. 1t is said many
lovers OF birds. recognizing in the as
ISOLATION the only active agency
through which they can hope TO do
AMT hing In big way for their feath-
erel friends are sending their mem
hership dues to the headquarters of
the association, at 1874 Broadway,
New York city.