Arizona republican., 1921-02-13

interested in bird study is to interest young people in the ways and habits of birds and to stimulate them to fur ther study.
 Time is long past when Nature Study, in its various phases, was con- sidered as one of the so-called efads" of the day, for in this age of progress i've education we are realizing that no subject is more far-reaching and practical in it's results.
 We believe in these days of special ization that the concentrating of our forces is the important thing. From all the various phases of Nature Study, then, which one shall we choose as most worthy of special attention? This may seem at first a rather difficult question to answer, but after careful consideration I am convinced that we may place bird study at the head of the list.
 By taking the children and teacher out of doors, bird study is valuable from health standpoint The pursuit which takes us afield and gives us rest and exercise combined, and increases our resources by broadening our in- terest in. nature, is not merely a pas time, but a recreation benefiting both mind and body. The important rela- ton which birds bear to our daily lives from an economic standpoint, is vital reason why bird study should be 1 A the boys in our public schools will be | the agriculturists of the future, they l should know that in the birds we have one of natures checks to those pests which destroy our crops and that the 1 increase of these feathered workers means an added agricultural prosper l fty. Teachers will often find that the dull girl or boy, who does not do good work in his other subjects, will excel 1 in just this line of work and uncon- sciously as they feel that in this sub l ject at least, they can stand first their attitude toward other work, will change and their interest in it in- crease
 The one great advantage of bird study is the fact that it can be taught l with equally good results in all grades, I the child just entering school and the
 boys and girls nearing the end of their
 grammar school course being all in-
 terested. I have very great faith in
 the value of the study of birds by the children of our schools and fimly be-
 lieve that it is of great value intel 1 lectually to learn the things that are
 about them.
 Birds seem to be the happiest crea-
 lures on earth. yet they have none of l what we call the comforts of life
 They have no houses to live in, no
 beds to sleep on, no breakfast and dim
 her provided for them. It is at this
 period in the spring of the year that
 birds make their strongest appeal to
 the human mind, in fact the words
 birds" and spring seem almost syn onymous. All the wild singing, all
 the brave flashing of wings and tail 1 all the mad dashing in and out among
 the thickets or soaring upward above 1 tree tops are impelled by the perfectly
 natural instinct of mating and rearing young. Most people are interested in such spring bird life as comes to their notice, and the extent of this interest depending in part on their opportunity for observation, but more especially perhaps on their individual taste and liking for things out of doors. One may learn more about a birds habits by closely observing its movements for
 a few hours at this season, than by