i6o 



Bird - Lore 



down to a connected study of a few species, the ordinary run, as it were, of 

 permanent and summer residents, after the thrilling chase of the multitude 

 of spring migrants, is quite a problem, and one far more taxing upon the 

 teacher than upon the ordinary observer. 



Warm, sluggish days dispose the pupils to lag in their school- work. Eyes 

 turn longingly out-of-doors, and the one desirable goal of all normal children 

 is vacation. 



Why not let all of nature possible into the school-room and into the school- 

 books at this season, and make the pupils feel that contact with nature is 

 essential to their daily health, joy and success? 



Migration naturally raises many questions, few of which can be adequately 

 answered, it is true, but most of which lead to fruitful discussion. 



One teacher suggested migration as the subject for a nature composition 

 to pupils in the lower grades. Many and unusual were the ideas brought 

 forth, but two points were evidently impressed upon the mind of every pupU, 

 namely, the distance and the dangers of migratory journeys. 



Taking these two points as a basis, suppose the teacher goes on to connect 

 the fact of migration with the welfare of the bird, its place in nature and rela- 

 tion to man. 



A scheme something as follows might aid in making these important 

 connections clear: 



:. Welfare of the Bird. 



a. Secures safe and congenial nesting-sites for many species. 



b. Secures a change of food for many species. 



c. Probably secures a greater supply of food for nestlings. 



d. Enables many species to get the benefit of the locality best suited 

 to them at all seasons of the year. 



'.. Bird's Place in Nature. 



a. Distributes birds over wide land-areas at the season when they 

 are needed. 



b. Gives birds the chance to do their proper work in nature of des- 

 troying seeds, destroying insects, distributing seeds, making 

 soil, acting as scavengers. 



;. Bird's Relation to Man. 



a. Brings birds into beneficial relations to man in agriculture, 

 horticulture, forestry. 



b. Sometimes brings birds into non-beneficial relations to man in 

 agriculture, horticulture. 



c. Brings birds into beneficial relations to man with reference to his 

 health, with reference to his enjoyment of life. 



Note. — Bring out clearly the reason why birds are occasionally non-beneficial in 

 agriculture and horticulture, by virtue of man's creating an abnormal food-supply within 

 a limited area. Examples: Rice-fields and Bobolinks; grain-fields and Red-winged 

 Blackbirds. 



Or, try making a geography lesson less humdrum, by following out the 

 principal migration routes of the birds of North America. 



Migration 



