Bird Day 



By Samuel Hamilton 



Under no condition should the observance of Bird Day be omitted because 

 of its vitalizing effect on the work of the school. The routine work of the 

 school is likely to become dull and monotonous, and special Bird Day programs, 

 like oases in the desert, are full of life and interest to the pupils. On such days 

 birds in cages, vases of goldfish, pet squirrels, pictures of birds and animals, 

 and flowers of all kinds, should be brought into the school. Let the pupils exam- 

 ine them, admire them, enjoy them, talk about them, and, if necessary, write 

 about them. If notice is given in time, the pupils will be able to relate interest- 

 ing incidents and stories about birds and animals, and the wide-awake, nature- 

 loving teacher will have a supply of bird and animal lore that will arouse interest, 

 contribute to the pleasure of the pupils, and displace the dull routine with the 

 most vitalizing and helpful instruction. In this respect Bird Day offers a fine 

 opportunity for bringing the spirit and the life of the great out-of-doors into 

 the schoolroom to charm, inspire and instruct; and the work of every school 

 demands that this opportunity be seized and used to advantage. 



The proper observance of such days is essential to the life and character of 

 the child. He learns to observe nature, to study nature, to love nature, to enter 

 into its spirit, to appreciate its beauty and its charm, to cultivate its companion- 

 ship, to enrich his own life with its treasures, and to add to his own pleasure 

 and enjoyment. The pupil thus interested in birds will erect bird-boxes, arrange 

 bird-baths and bird-restaurants, and in every way encourage the feathered beau- 

 ties to live and nest near his home. 



Last year a bronzed grackle (crow blackbird) frequented a certain yard. 

 His rich, bronze satin-like plumage was a never-ending study and delight. He 

 was a proud, self-respecting bird, and walked around over the lawn with dignity 

 and majesty. He literally walked like the crow, for this richly dressed gentle- 

 man never hops, as is the habit of the robin and other birds which frequent 

 our lawns. He was always very clean and tidy, and yet he was never seen to 

 bathe, although other birds used the bath. He was intelligent, and would carry 

 large pieces of bread thrown out for food to the bath and dip them in the water 

 before proceeding to feast upon them. 



The two bird-boxes made by the boys in the manual training departments 

 were erected in the writer's back yard. Inside of a week two house wrens were 

 building a nest in one of the boxes. Where they came from was a mystery, for 

 wrens had not been observed there during the past two years. One evening one 

 of the wrens was noticed trying to get a twig with a prong on it into the box 

 through the door. It turned the twig in many ways, but still one end protruded. 

 Another, and then another twig shared the same fate, and one was almost 

 tempted to help the patient little toiler by cutting off the protruding ends. Then 



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