BIRD NOTES 203 



English sparrow are winter studies; the robin, oriole, and the gull 

 in the spring. Others are identified and observed, but we are 

 careful not to confuse the little people with too much information. 



Beginning with the fourth grade and including the seventh 

 grades , the pupils are ready for more intensive bird study . A simple 

 classification is made and some of the bird families are studied. 

 Migration is made a most interesting subject for discussion. 

 This year we have used Mr. Chapman's excellent book "Bird 

 Travelers" with very good results. The economic value as well as 

 the aesthetic is taken up with the children. In the manual training 

 classes bird boxes are made by the second and fourth grade children. 



This year March has been a Bird Month. The Women's 

 Conference of the Ethical Culture Society prepared a splendid bird 

 exhibit in their room in the Society building. This exhibit was 

 made possible by contribucions from the Museum of Natural 

 History, the Bronx Zoological Garden, the Audubon Society of 

 New York, the Department of Agriculture, the Ethical Culture 

 School, and the publishers of the best bird books. In this exhibit 

 were colored pictures of the birds of New York State arranged 

 according to their families and food habits, their time of arrival in 

 the spring, and the winter residents; a collection of bird houses, 

 feeding devices, and baths, stuffed specimens of the common birds, 

 nests, bird books, original books arranged by several children, and 

 the literature given out by the Department in Washington. 



This exhibit has been the means of interesting many mothers 

 who will take up the study with their children during the summer. 

 On the morning of April 20th, Mr. Louis Agassiz Fuertes of Ithaca, 

 will give his bird lecture, illustrating with slides and bird songs. 



Spring in The Swamp 



Phoebe Bird 



Red-wing atilt on a cat-tail fluff 

 His challenge sings with glee: 

 "Look at my epaulets scarlet and buff! 

 See me, Beloved, see! 



It is I and I love you quite enough, 



It is I, and believe me I'm the stuff, 



Listen now, for it is no bluff. 

 Heed me, see me, see!" 



