The Audubon Societies 



397 



steps in, posts the area, and during the 

 hunting-season has the land patrolled by 

 a warden. 



"Work for the enactment of a law which 

 grants to each town the privilege to 

 appoint its own town bird-warden. A 

 law of this sort went into operation in 

 Massachuetts in 1913 for the first time, 

 and already two towns have availed 

 themselves of it. The duties of the warden 

 would be to arouse interest in birds in his 

 locality; to visit the schools of the town 

 and talk on che subject to the children; 

 to patrol the public lands and preserves 

 within the limits of the township; to put 

 up bird-boxes and shelter-housas, and in 

 winter, when the ground is covered with 

 deep snow, to feed the birds. I tell you 

 the idea is grand, and you will be amazed 

 how quickly benefits will develop when 

 once you have aroused the public to the 

 importance of bird-life in its community. 

 "Many subordinate grange lecturers 

 are at sea as to what to plan for their bird- 

 night, and every subordinate grange 

 should have its bird-night. If a speaker 

 is desired, this bird-committee will be the 

 proper bureau to secure one, and also to 

 prepare a program. These are a few of the 

 duties which befall a state grange bird- 

 protection committee. 



"Now, addressing those of you whose 

 homes are in other states than Massa- 

 chusetts, if you haven't such a committee 

 begin at once to work for it. It has im- 

 pressed me as just as important a function 

 to perform in our grange life as any other, 

 and the state grange which fails to include 

 this committee within its organization 

 is not alive to its opportunities, and fails 

 to recognize a very important branch of 

 our agticultural life. Much effective work 

 can be accomplished by the organization 

 of a grange bird-club. Let this club be 

 the local bird-committee, and to it refer 

 all matters of ornithology. Carry the 

 message also to the school-children. You 

 will be swept off your feet by the interest 

 and ardor of these little people, who 

 always prove to be keen students. It is 

 through these same children that the 

 parents at home most frequently receive 



this light. So interest the children. Then, 

 as a club, take bird-walks. I have yet to 

 take a bird-walk upon which I did not 

 gain added knowledge of bird-life, or 

 from which something out of the usual 

 did not take place. 



"Finally, I wish to encourage you to 

 plan for state grange bird field-days. 

 This idea is entirely new in this country. 

 Not until the recent meetings in Worces- 

 ter and Pittsfield had there ever been 

 Bird Field-Days. I regret all of you could 

 not have been present to have received 

 some of the enthusiasm with which every 

 one seemed imbued. The attendance 

 was very gratifying, more than 1,000 at 

 Worcester and 300 at Pittsfield, the 

 inclement weather at the latter place 

 undoubtedly keeping many away. It is 

 the purpose of the Massachusetts State 

 Grange, through its bird-committee, to 

 make the Bird Field-Days an annual 

 affair, and already an invitation has been 

 received to hold the next one in Franklin 

 Park, Boston. 



"We propose to leave in every place a 

 memorial to the birds in the way of fifty 

 bird-houses, which, under proper super- 

 vision, will be distributed among those 

 school-children that by their interest in 

 bird-lore have merited a reward. 



"Do all in your power to attract birds 

 to your town and premises; establish sanc- 

 tuaries, and put up every year bird-houses, 

 which now may be obtained cheaply, or 

 which may be made at home. Insert on 

 your lawn, or on public grounds, bathing- 

 places for birds (make them not more than 

 two inches deep, with sloping sides); plant 

 shrubbery about your house and grounds, 

 the kinds that bear the berries birds feed 

 on; and when winter comes, and with it 

 the deep snow, don't forget the birds in 

 the village as well as in the woods. Feed 

 them often, and you will be surprised at 

 the results your efforts will bring vou. 

 If you only strive to accomplish these 

 results, even if you may fail in man\' 

 cases, I know that you will find yourselves 

 because of your association with out-of- 

 door life, better men and women, stronger 

 to carry on life's work." 



