The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-11-12
Whiting Talks
On BiirtIlife
To Children
COMPLIMENTS JR.
AUDUBON CLUB ON
IT'S INTEREST AND.
ENTHUSIASM

s.. Jcseph's Academy at 1890
yesterday afternoon, Stuart s.
Whiting, President Of the As,n-
roe County Audubon Society
comphmented the group upon
it, interest ana enthusiasm in
bird life and conservation and
paid tribute 10 Sister Mary John
for having organized this fine
group.
In his talk, Whiting pointed
out that the immense variety in
nature and particularly ii bird
life added greatly 10 the inter-
est in learning more about il.
Using as examples mounted
specimens Of the Ruby Throated
hrpmIngbifd, the Great Horned
Owl the Downy Wood ecker, a
Toucan and hawk from Scot
land, similar to the Red, Shoul-
aered Hawk, which had been
presented 10 the school by the
Smithsonian Institution, he told
how each was particularly adapt
ed to the kind Of life the Crea-
tor intended il should live. and
how each kind Of bird helped to
MAINTAIN healthy balance in
nature, ~ N tlt ' "
Conservation, lie told the jun
ior Audubon Club members, is
big word meaning to save
things SO that others can see and
enjoy them, both today and in
the distant future He spoke Of
the vast herds Of bison or buff
fal0 which once foamed in such
numbers over the eastern part
Of the United States that it must
have seemed to people of that
day that it would be impossible
that they would ever be slaugh-
tered until NOW the small herds
left are in zoos and state and
national parks
Whiting told how the nearly
extinct Great White Heron of
Florida had, through careful pro-
lection, increased in numbers
until they now number over 1000
birds. He also spoke of the small
herd OF Key Deer and the need
for preventing them from be-
coming extinct.
In talking about bird migra-
tions he said that even though
more is being learned each year
by bird banding, there is still
much mystery about those move
ments of great flights of birds
south and north with the sea-
sons ana that no one knows just
how they find their way over
the vast expapses Of field, noun
Tain, forest and oceans Whiting
invited the Junior Club mem
bers 20 attend the Audubon
Screeh Tour Matinees which be-
gin in January so that they can
learn from color movies and the
men who made them more and
more about the animals and
birds in the places where these
creatures live.
At the close Of the talk there
was an extremely lively question
and answer session which would
do credit to Stump the Elk
perts" quiz program. The boys
wanted to know such things as
How big is an eagle?", How
fast can a hawk fly2" What
does red-Wing biackbird eat?"
"How many times a minute does
shumming- bird m owe his
Wings What is the fastest fly
ing bigd?, Can a golden eagle
carry off man?", How far
SOUTH does Baltimore Oriole
fly2", what is an eagles wing
spread?", How much does a
hawk weigh?" and score OF
other questions which indicated
their interest in the subject of
bird lore
The Junior Members of the
National Audubon Society Of ST.
Joserh's school have been quite
active since its organization last
year
The Youngsters have complied
a large scrap book on all varie-
ties Of birds and thee purchased
bird bath which was placed or
the front grounds of the Con-
vent of Mary Immaculate
Al present they are carving
species Of birds out Of soap 10
enter in soap carving contest.
Members of the Junior Audubon
Society are as follows:
Joseph Rodriguez, Lancelot
Lester. Clyde Hicks, Dennis
Paret Robert Bonamy, Paul Pc
rez. Claude Gorden, Paul Top
pino. Joseph Faone, Mitchell
Henderson, James Alexander,
Robert Reed Kenneth Reddy,
Howard Bias Stephen Ulrich,
Roy Roberts, Dennis Salenero,
Michael Barrett. Bruce Domen-
ech. Howard Smith, Patrick Nc
Gonigle. John Cassidy, Scott
McPhnNps. Samuel Gibson, John
Chinchar, Douglas Malard, Ed
ward Dla2, Michael Padron,
Kenneth Rueda. Joseph Lower,
Gary Gutberlet, Gabriel Fabre-