mo Rural School Leaflet 



Material : 



a. Outside 



b. Inside (lining) 



c. In some nests, as the robin's, there is a middle layer; this also 



should be described 

 Location : 



a. General environment — woods, hedgerow, orchard, and the like 



b. Name of tree or bush in which placed, as apple tree 



c. Location in tree or bush, as end of branch, near trunk, and the 



like 



d. Height above ground 



7. Bird Day in the schools is to be observed each year early in April, 

 as directed by the University of the State of New York. On this day 

 the work done in bird study during the year may be siunmarized and 

 reported to the older folk of the district. The value of birds to the farmer 

 should be emphasized at this time, and attention may be called to birds 

 of particular local interest. The bird houses located on the grounds 

 should be shown to the visitors, also the feeding station that has been 

 kept supplied during the winter, and a list given of the guests that visited 

 it. Each pupil might learn one of the bird quotations given on pages 

 II 3 7 to 1139. Designs made by the children for a bird calendar might be 

 exhibited. If outdoor conditions are favorable, an open road trip or a 

 field trip would be interesting. A record of the trip should be kept, which 

 would include a list of the birds seen and heard. 



8. A few birds seem to be exceedingly destructive in some localities; 

 even the robin has a very bad reputation in one or two sections of New 

 York State. If this is the case in your community, why not start the 

 children making some investigations before the birds are destroyed, 

 and let them take up the matter with Dr. Allen, who has charge of 

 ornithology at the State College of Agriculture? He will be glad to 

 help them estimate the destruction, and will be able to advise what it is 

 best to do in the matter. The children should learn to turn to scientists 

 for information and advice on a question as important as the destruction 

 of wild life. 



9. In the study of birds, as in all nature study, avoid having lessons 

 learned from a book. It is far better to have a few facts first-hand from 

 nature than to know what another person has written about a bird. When 

 the initial study has been made by observations in the out-of-doors, the 

 boys and girls may be taught to find answers to their questions in reference 

 books. Every schoolroom should have one good bird book. Perhaps 

 there is no inexpensive, publication more useful than Reed's Bird Guide. 



