DEPARTMENT OF ORNITHOLOGY 



Editors / Arthur H. Norton, Portland 



1 Prof. Alfred O. Gross, Brunswick 



THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES OP BRUNSWICK 



By Alfred O. Gross 



In order to stimulate the organization of bird clubs 

 among the boys and girls of other towns of Maine, it seems 

 fitting to present a brief account of the work being done by 

 the 'Robin' and 'Bluebird' Junior Audubon Societies of 

 Brunswick. These two societies are composed of boys and 

 girls of twelve or more years of age and who have an active 

 interest and keen enthusiasm for bird and nature study. 

 Since the organization of these clubs, so much has been 

 accomplished in the study of nature and especially in 

 arousing public sentiment in favor of our wild birds that they 

 have come to be recognized as a source of great good to the 

 community. Many of the boys who formerly thought of a 

 bird merely as a mark for their slingshots and air rifles, are 

 now directing their energies in ceaseless effort to protect the 

 birds which they have learned to be valuable and useful 

 creatures. If the boys and girls of this generation are taught 

 the great lessons of nature, it will be an important factor in 

 making them better men and women, as well as more useful 

 citizens. 



The two societies hold their meetings in the Searles 

 Biological Laboratory of Bowdoin College. The education- 

 al leaflets published by the National Association of Audubon 

 Societies are used as the basis of study of the birds, but the 

 members also have the privilege of studying the mounted 

 specimens and extensive collection of scientific skins of the 

 college, which aid materially in presenting to the boys and 

 girls a correct impression of the size and markings of the 

 various birds. The economic value of the birds is continual- 

 ly emphasized and an effort is made to present, in a popular 

 way, the interesting scientific features relating to migration, 

 behavior and instincts of these most fascinating of all wild 

 creatures. After this intensive laboratory study, they are 

 well equipped for their task of identification and study of 

 birds as they are found in nature, and indeed, these boys and 

 girls greet a bird which they see in the field for the first time, 

 with the same delight as they would an intimate companion. 



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