Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-22
Circulation Every 1IA01
Evening Yesterday xf7V l.
BIRD Protection Movement.

Bird Protection Movement.
The principals and teachers OF all the,
schools Of our city with the cooperation
of those in executive positions exert their
influence toward all that tends to an
economic value for our country, as wen
Rs for the broadening development oi
the children. Recently they have done
remarkable work in forming Junior
Audubon clubs. The children have done
heir part. as children will, if gwen the
pnportunity. They have banded to-
gether enthusiastically for the study OF
and n closer acquaintance with birds
lust watch to see how many students
todav are wearing the Bird Button. lhis
i the official badge of the National Asso-
ciation of Audubon Societies, purely
voluntarily financed association with
beadouarters in New York City. Inns
society is doing a wonderful work al
over our country for the protection OF
birds and wild animals. In July, 1918, u
was instrumental in passing the treaty
with Canada which was mentioned above.
boast of I25 different kinds OF birds Last
January one of our scientists announced
that there were only thUe kinds OF
birds that are commonly noticed today;
The destructive starlings, the not-ail-oad
house-spafrow, and the very valuable
meadow lark. Some contemporaries
have been ON the watch and from the
FIRST of the wear to date have record OF
36 different species of birds seen IN and
near the city and summer not yet here'
So we can feel encouraged.
Watch for the Bird Pin badge. Prncl-
pals. teachers. students. old and young
co-operate to bring Delaware into the
first ranks. An official bulletin recently
published in New England reads: Little
Delaware last year had three Audubon
Clubs. total membership, l03, while this
wear. April /, there are 4S clubs with u
membership of ,512 and many more to
be added into the next report. In pro-
norton to the population of the various
States this will soon put Delaware IN hrst
or second place. Last year the standing
was: New York, Pennsylvania, ONO,
New Jersey. Massachusetts,, Come cticut
etc. The total enrolment for the States,
cast and west. on April ] was 2ll,oo'
against lO4,527 last year. lhis is
world wide movement, the countries OF
Europe having bird and wild animal
protective organization called the Swaiio"
Society. The United States has a
Migratory Bird law with Canada. and q
similar law is being pushed in Washington
for a mutual migratory bird protection
with Mexico and the countries OF Central
and South America.
Few citizens of Delaware realize the
great work that has been undertaken by
the principals and teachers of our private
and public schools and il is the duty OF
every patriotic citizen TO take an interest
IN this work of bird and animal protection
which is for our mutual benefit and self
preservation.
Robins wage war on the white grub
of the May beetle and destroy dormant
cutworms in early spring.
Cuckoos destroy hordes OF hairy cater
pillars
Flckers are death on ants which form
45 per cent of their food.
Downy woodpeckers pierce the cocoo n
of the coddling moths.
Chiekadees destroy borers and coddling
moths.
Catbirds make cutworms G2 per cent
of their food.
Warblers. our tiniest allies. have great
capacity for destroying small insects
A hooded warbler has been known to
catch 120 insects minute.
Rose-breasted grosbeaks destroy vast
numbers of potato beetles
Night hawks destroy ants. and potato
and cucumber bugs in large numbers.
Meadow larks war on cutworms, army
worms and chinch bugs.
The red shouldered hawk Is one Of the
farmers bes. friends, the greatest ent M
: of small rodents.
Tho short-eared owl and screeeh owl
destroy great numbers of harmful rodents
and noxious insects.
The song sparrow is captain of the weed
warriors
and the children of Wilmington are IN
the van of this mighty Audubon Army.
Already the sturdy tread Of little feet
marching with the older volunteers Is