South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-22
CIVICS SECTION IN
ANNUAL MEETING
Dr.. FeagIer and Carl Perkins
Talk on Birds at Annual
Bird Day Session.

At the regular meeting Of the de-
partment of civics of the Woman's|
club Thursday afternoon. DR.. J. p.
Feagler and Carl Perkins gave in
teresting papers on the protection
and preservation Of birds as an eco
nomic measure During the bust
ness meeting the matter Of the side
walks came up and letter from the
mayor of Laporte regarding that
matter was read. The letter came
/ in answer 10 one written by the cor
/ responding secretary of the depart
ment, Mrs W. r. Kinsley COM
mending the city on its clean side
walks and asking the methods en-
ployed to keep them so. The letter
follows:
yours of yesterday regarding the
| condition of sidewalks, duly receiv-
ed. Replying, will state that l was
much pleased that "A member of
your club found our streets in good
condition. relative to being free from
snow and ice. Answering your in
quiry as 10 what methods We en-
/ ployed, / can inform YOU that We
have an ordinance providing that all
snow and ice shall be removed from
the walks within q hours after such
conditions arise.
Upon taking Office as mayor of
this city on Jan. Z last, looked into
this question and when the heavy
snowfall came 1 merely gave the
newspapers notice requesting our
citizens to comply with the ordi
nance, and the result was that it was
generally complied with without
further trouble. No doubt if your
citizens were appealed TO and re-
quested 10 perform their duties they
would DO likewise"
Officers for the ensuing year were
elected as follows: Chairman, Mrs.
J. w. Keller: vice chairman. Mrs.
W. =. Christophel; recording secre-
tary. Mrs. A. G. Henwood; CORE
spending secretary, Mrs. W. &. Kins-
ley; treasurer, Mrs. Rose Grimes.
DIR. FeagIcr Talks.
DR.. Feagler. in his talk, empha
sized chiefly the economic value OF
birds and urged their protection for
that purpose. The birds discussed
principally were the various species
| of hawks and owls. DR.. Feagler
stated that 20 years ago most of the
states of the Union placed a bounty
on those birds, with the result that
naturalists discovered that they were
being fast exterminated. The mat
ter was taken up and investigation
made with perhaps 5000 birds.
one hundred and seventy of these
contained fowl and game birds, 400
small birds, 500 mammals and 500
insects Six species of hawks were
found TO be detrimental TO the good
of the community and were elimi
mated.
OF the remaining birds examined,
Us contained fowl or game birds, zoo
small birds. 9OO mammals and 700
/ insects. OF the six harmful species
/ but two are ever found in this vicin
/ ity. They are the cOOpers hawk and
/ the sharp-shinned, and are of spec
I iaI danger TO fowls and poultry. The
/ balance, the roughleg, the broad
wing and the red-shouldered varie-
ties. are very beneficial 10 farmers
and poultry raisers. as they live
chiefly on the meadow mouse, the
gopher and the cotton rat.
But One Here Dangerous.
Swainson's hawk. while a strictly
prairie hawk, is sometimes found in
this locality. II feeds on grasshOp-
pers and as many as 200 have been
found in the stomach of one after a
morning feed. OF the owls, accord
ing to Dr. Fesgler, but one in this
locality is questionable, and that is
the great horned owl. The harm il
does. however, is counterbalanced by
the good accomplished in the eX-
F.. termination OF rats, mice and rab-
( bits. II should be protected by the
farmer and poultry raiser, although
il does make off now and then with
"a fowl.
The screech owl, barn and long
cared owls are by far the greatest
hunters of the winged species. The
/ screech Owl has been known to catch
as many as % mice a night and 10
kill u English sparrows in one
evening. The long-eared owl lives
principally on meadow mice and has
been known to devour nine at one
/ feeding
/ In the light of these facts. DR..
/ Feagler stated in conclusion. il be-
hooves the farmer and poultry raiser
70 protect and preserve these birds,
with the exception of the known
detrimental varieties.
Mr.. Perkins, in his talk. reported
on the work of the Bird club. an or
ganization which did remarkable
work last year. but which has been
unfortunately abandoned. He told
Of the trips taken by the members
and described some OF the birds
/ seen. which numbered about pol
He also told OF the efforts OF the
Orphans home in this field. Many
Interesting and delightful papers
were delivered during the existence
OF the club and il was unfortunate
that SO few Mishawaka people took
advantage of them.
Mr.. Perkins stated that in view OF
the fact that Elkhart has a club
| which has a membership OF over l.
000 II should be possible 70 interest