Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-04
ROBERT M. GRIFFITH
On Caring for the Native Birds

LIVERY citizen should feel it his duty to
II do what he can to assist in the preser.
walton Of the native birds Of this country.
according to Robert NJ. Griffith. treasurer
Of the Fair,nount Park Bird Club and 4
man who has devoted much time for many
years to the encouragement OF bird life.
Naturally the thing to do to conserve
and to promote bird life.' said Mr.. Griffith.
'is to provide food and shelter and to
afford protection against some Of the worst
enemies Of the birds. In this last category
come needless boys and cats. especially the
kind which have become half wild and are
reduced to fOraging for themselves.
A Hard Fight at Best
'The native American birds have suai.
ciently hard fight for life at best. and every
citizei, should do what he can to help them
In this battle. In several sections of the
country there are bird sanctuaries, especially
in Alabama, Mississippi and other of the
Southern States, and number OF them have
been placed upon Government lands.
MRS. Hetty Green was one Of the first
persons TO realize what protection to the
especial interest in the protection Of the
exret, the first real protection to this much :
sought bird having been due to her. She
bought an island of Louisiana, and there
the birds receive real protection.
'The Audubon Society has al also done
-
has provided game wardens und watchers to
patrol the coast in certain sections where
the slaughter Of tue native birds was the
most outrageous. In New England there Is
at least one public and number OF private
bird sanctuaries.
Birds Realize Protection
"Like all wild things, the birds soon
realize where they are protected and where
they are not. and therefore the sanctuaries
are speedily crowded. Paramount Park is a
great bird sanctuary. 1t Is true that cats
roam there in great numbers. but as a rule
| the birds are able to take care Of themselves
| there; 1t is the human enemy against which
| the bird Is helpless.
There ore many squirrels too in the
Park, and they eat a great many eggs OF
the birds in the course Of year: but this
cannot be helped, and 1t Is one of nature
| ways of maintaining the balance of lff
! among her wild children. Bird houses should
be built in such manner that the cats ant
the squirrels cannot get into them.
'"The crew and the grackle are hard Or
| other birds, and there are many other native
enemies. But, as ] have said, against these
| the bird, with little help, can hold his own
THE chief thing to do is to get rea'
sonab!c amount Of interest started among
the people IN the preservation Of the birds
has had each year Bird Masquc at tn,
| Henry School. The music was furnished
by an orchestra and band and 300 or 4O(
children take part.
Children Respond Readily
''The object Of this Is to instill Low,
and an understanding Of the birds into th'
children, and once this is done 1t will never
leave them and they will remain bird lover.
to the end Of their days. 1t IL surprisin,
to see how quickly the children, especially
the boys, respond to this. Only short tim
ago number OF boys brought to me ,
robin which has Aown until utterly ex,
hausted. They had picked It up, put it o,
little bed of cotton and brought It to m,
to know what further to do for It.
''The boys of the school make bird houses
and prizes are given each year for the chill
dren who take the greatest interest In birds
for those who make the best houses and fo
those who do the best feeding of them. Their
are several Of these prizes, and last year twt
OF the children who won them bought birt
books with their prizes,
| the movement here started from yisi
N. II. The children arc taught how !,
trample down the snow for the birds onI
then to put the food on the tramped. I'm >,
! surface; II IL not necessary to shovel IN,