The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-07
Topeka BIRD CLUB
New Organization Is Formed
Thru Efforts of BayneS.
Dean Kaye of Grace Cathedral
Named Temporary Pres.

Rev James P. deb. Kaye of the
Grace cathedral was elected temper
airy president of the Topeka Bird club,
Tuesday evening at the lecture given
by Ernest Harold Baynes, noted ma
turalist and bird lover. of Meriden,
n. H. Mrs. b. B. Smith, 515 West
street, was elected temporary secre-
tary and Mrs. S. A. Thurston, as tenn
porary treasurer. A permanent or
ganization will be effected soon.
Dean Kaye offered the wooded land
of Bethany college and the grounds
of Christ hospital to the public to be
used for developing and attracting
birds in this locality. He expressed
great interest in the movement and
promised his ardent support.
There are three great questions
that the people must answer" said
Mr.. Baynes at his lecture in the audi
torium, Tuesday night. DO the birds
need protecting; second, it is worth
while, and third, how can it be doneP
| The passenger pigeon of a few years
ago is now practically extinct" he
said. Thirty years ago these pigeons
| swarmed over the country like a cloud.
| They have been slain by the millions
and now they are practically extinct"
| Baynes also pointed to the great aux,
| the whooping crane and the Esquimo
curly, birds killed off by plumage
! hunters-even to the last specimen.
!
| Staying of birds has never been sue
cessful," he said. The people and
not the legislatures must protect
them or else stand by and see them
! killed off,
Bird Farmers Friends.
| To show the big audience that the
protection of the birds in both winter
and summer was worth while. Mr..
/ Baynes read from the report of the
! United States department of agricul-
ture. He found that the loss of crops.
| due to bugs in the fields amounted
to $1,000, 100000 a year.
/ THE chief protection against this
infestion of the fields is the birds"
| he stated. IF the birds could have
! saved half of this loss, beyond
| doubt, it would have been worth while
to protect them in winter and summer
| and at all other times
Bird houses was the plan for WIN
| ter protection that Mr.. Baynes offered
| TO the audience. Before the pro-
lection can Begin he said "it is nee
| essary to attract the birds. Feed
them in every yard. as the people in
shelter for Them
Many illustrations were shown and
explained by the naturalist, showing
the methods used in Meriden and
other New England towns. He showed
picture of his wooded Sanctuary
near his home, where millions of birds
! come every year.
The lecturer came to Topeka at
the invitation of the forestry depart
ment of the women's clubs of Topeka
and the chairman and vice chairma n.
! Mrs. A. A. Robinson and Mrs. Bennett
r. Wheeler. have been assured by Mr..
| Baynes that he will return in the
! spring to take part in the sta ging of
| the annual birdhouse contest.
! While here Mr.. BayneS was the
! nf r M nix
| p. MacLennan. He was given a lunch
con, with Superintendent Reinisch as
an additional guest, at l o'clock a,
| Cedarcrest, a bird haven at the coun =
try place of the MacLennans. five
miles west of Topeka. He left at mid
night for Galveston where he speaks
| Thursday He expressed his great
delight at everything Topekan.