278 Bird - Lore 



REPORT OF MISS GRETCHEN L. LIBBY 



During the past year, the work of your Cahfornia Field Agent and School 

 Secretary was limited to the southern part of the state, it being deemed wiser 

 to work thoroughly one section of the state rather than try to cover a large 

 territory superficially. 



Two hundred and thirty talks and lectures were given on the habits and 

 value of birds, and means of attracting and protecting them. Among the organi- 

 zations addressed were teachers' and farmers' institutes, clubs, junior and 

 senior Audubon Societies, schools, library and parent-teachers' associations 

 and the State School Superintendents' Convention. Twenty-five different 

 towns and cities were visited, the combined audiences numbering about 

 fourteen thousand persons. Many of the state and national Educational 

 Leaflets and copies of bird laws were distributed. The valuable information 

 which they contain has done much to spread a knowledge concerning the 

 importance of bird life. 



A booklet entitled "Lessons on Some of our Common Birds" was prepared 

 by your agent for one of the county school superintendents, and this resulted 

 in an added interest in bird study. Many teachers were also provided with 

 a list of bird books and other helpful material, and an outline for the study 

 of birds. 



Recognizing the importance of educating the boys and girls, my work 

 as School Secretary has been most strongly emphasized. The systematic 

 study of birds in the schools cannot fail to prove of real value, for in most 

 cases the destruction of bird life by children is due to lack of knowledge. 

 Once convince the boy of the important relation which birds bear to our 

 every-day life, and he will change from one of their worst enemies to one of 

 their best friends. In many cases, through the children we are also educating 

 the men and women, for the child tells his parents of the thing that interests 

 him in school. 



The plan has been to reach each school, if possible, in the towns and cities 

 visited. As a result of the talks given, forty-six new Junior Audubon Socie- 

 ties were organized, making the total junior membership for the state 3,135. 

 The enthusiasm with which the children responded to the work, and the 

 hearty support and cooperation of teachers and superintendents, were very 

 encouraging, and cannot fail to bring success to this branch of our work. 



Interesting reports were received from Junior Societies, telling of the 

 changed attitude of the children toward bird life, and of the practical work 

 which they are trying to do for bird protection. 



The results of teaching children the \alue of bird life cannot be over- 

 estimated, for the protection of our birds in the future must depend upon 

 the youth of today, our future agriculturists and law-makers. 



