The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-23
BIRD STUDY
NEEDED IN
SCHOOLS

|PartridSe, 9nearly Oh or our naive
birds in fact, are not only creatures
of grace. and beauty that in many
cases delight us with song or Won
derfully developed instinct. They
are each worth not inconsider-
able sum Of money to the agrieul-
tural interests Of the nation, and
hence more or less directly to the
individuals of any community. And,
their collective value is enormous.
sThe National Association Of
Audubon Societies was established
in 1901 for the protection of wild
birds and animals, and today SO
high a value is placed upon the
services to mankind of our fnrred
and feathered friends, that the as
|sociation has available and is dis,
bursing $4,000 for this purpose.
Professor j.. D. Corrington, of the
department of biology, University
of South Carolina. has recently
been appointed field agent Of the
association for this state and he is
this week communicating with all
COUNTY snperintendents OF educa-
ton in an endeavor to secure their
cooperation in advancing nature
study in our schoois. This work
lis being conducted as part of the
extension service of the University.
Our native birds are able to cope
with their natural enemies, but
stand in need of protection from
foes introduced by man, such as
the English sparrow and domes-
tic cat, and especially from man
himself. principally in the form Of
the pot-hunter and the small boy
proud pessessor Of rife or sling
shot, or perhaps with nest-rob-
bing proclivities.
There are sufficient laws al
ready upon the books TO secure
such protection, but these are not
enforced in many localities. Just
! as in the present case of prohibi-
ton. the people as whole must
be behind the law and approve Of
its justice before it may be en-
forced. The federal migra tory bird
law, for example, recognizes that
our. common and very useful song
birds are not. the property of any
one: state or peoples, but of the
entire nation, and imposes penal
ties for their destruction How
many communities in South Caro-
lima enforce this !.aw? How many,
in fact, even knew Of its very ex-
istence?
Birds are Of inestina BILE service
to mankind as destroyers of nox-
ious insects and weed seeds. These
pests are their natural food and
will be kept in check if only the
birds are encouraged and protect
ed a little instead Of meeting
persecution. The loss to agricuI-
ture in the United States from in
sect depredations ,alone runs into
the millions OF dollars annually.
This question then affects the
farmer directly, and the city, tax
payer hut slightly less. though it
is difficult for the general public to
take such matters at all seriously.
Let us hope that the people Of the
Palmetto State will respond while
there are yet birds to assist and
save.
The National Association wisely
saw that the proper place to con-
duct such educational work was
primarily in the graded schools,
though all high school students
are urged to assist and affiliate
with clubs. Children take natur-
ally to subjects dealing with out
doors-With plants and animals.
Nature study now forms a large
part OF the weekly program of the
majority of American schools, and
no other department of instruc-
ton succeeds. so well in stimulating
pupils to a work which is all play.
The classes identify the many
kinds of birds and study their
habits, watching especially their
nest-building and rearing Of the
young; they construct nesting
boxes, winter feeding stations, and
bird baths. Before long the de-
structive instincts Of the genus
smallboy americana are transform
ed into constructive activities. He
becomes a morel broadly, educated
and tolerant citizen, and the state
is the gamer thereby both in man
power and bird power.
: The association operates through
Junior Audubon Clubs, which it es-
tablishes and assists in the schools
Of the country. Teachers in rural
schools usually welcome the op-
portunity for service of this nature.
and in every school in each town
and city of the state there should
be. at least one teacher who will
be sufficiently interested to form
one of these clubs. To June l,
1922, there We're 1882 Junior
Audubon clubs in the schools OF
the United States and Canada,
with a total membership Of u
.893,S15. Z
Each pupil wishing to join such
a club brings ten cents to the
teacher, who sends the collected
fund to the state agent. Twenty
five or more pupils form a club.
which may receive an appropriate
name of their own choosing. The
state agent then forwards to the
teacher for each child enrolled n