New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-04-18
The / ]! ! Open Forum d

The | ] Open + Drum d
Editor of the Open Forum:
# The beautiful notes Of robin outside
the window calling cheerily for mate
prompts a word in behalf of these wonder
full little creatures, the birds.
a national bird day is being talked of, \
and the suggestion is made that April
8, be chosen. This is the birthday Of
John Burroughs, who knows more about
bird life than anybody else in our country.
It would help to stimulate a favorable
sentiment to devote a day to the birds,
when everybody would be supposed to
take special interest in their welfare.
Persons most familiar with bird life are
the ones who see the necessity Of pro-.
tecting them SO that some of the kinds
do not become extinct.
Congress has been asked recently for
an appropriation for the maintenance
of bird and game reservations, and there
are severl hundred people in the United
States who are reporting to the Biological
Survey the dates of the arrival and de.
parture Of the birds every year, and
some very interesting things have been
worked out from these reports. Il,
Since the passage of the migratory
bird law, wild fowl and game birds have
increased considerably. This law applies
to birds which nest in one part of Ameri-
ca and make their homes in another
section Of the country. Nearly all
Of the migratory birds nest in Canada,
but winter along the Cult Of Mexico.
There are some reservations where they
have almost complete protection.
The 'insectivorous birds, warblers, and
smaller birds also nest in Canada, altho
many Of course nest in the United States.
Many Of our birds spend the winter in
South America and it is known almost
exactly what routes they follow, and
where they winter when they get there. A
few birds disappear completely in winter.
Do you know that the winter home of
our common Chimney sweep has never
been found out? They fly away to the
Gulf of Mexico and nothing more is
known of them until they return.
The home instinct is strong in birds
as it is in most creatures, and every
spring large number of those who have
survived the winter return to their old
haunts to breed.
The life of birds is beset with dangers,
and mishaps of which we know little.
Certain birds nest around our houses and
buildings for protection from their
enemies. They lead the darkest kind
OF life even in our. gardens and orchards.
The chances are great of the nest being
rifled by some prey, human or otherwise,
from the time the eggs are deposited in /
the nest until the young ones are able to
care for themselves.
The first nest builders in the spring /
are in the most danger. A large pro-
portion Of the nests Of April and May
are destroyed, in different ways. It is
bad enough when the eggs and young
birds meet destruction but when the
father or mother bird is taken, what a.
tragedy. Everybody can be careful
not to destroy eggs, or nests, and ever :
body can put out food for those that stay
here thru the winter, and birds need
water. This is something the boys and
girls can do to help care for the birds,
and they can build bird houses and put
them in trees and other convenient
places so that the birds can have good
and safe places to live in and raise their
young ones. Do not paint bird houses
too bright such unnatural ycoloring
frightens the birds and keeps them away.
Birds are not useless They destroy
millions Of insects and harmful weed
seeds, and are necessary as protection
to our shade and fruit trees. The De-
partment of Agriculture claims every
bob-white is worth $500 TO the farmer.
Since the economic Importance Of BIRDS
is coming to be understood the study Of
birds and their protection is seen to be a
necessity in town and country and what
is there in all nature that gives more joyl
than the singing Of birds The diversity
Of their songs is without number.
Many bird lovers are making study
Of bird music They say that the music
OF song bird is governed by con-
structive rules like our own music, and
a common origin is assured for the
music Of man and bird
There are said to be $50 different kinds
OF birds around about us. To be able
to learn the habits and powers of some
OF them it is not necessary always to