472 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A "bird DAY" FOR SCHOOLS. 



The Department of Agriculture, through the efforts of C. A. Bab- 

 cock, of Oil City, Pa., has conceived the idea of establishing "Bird 

 Day" in the schools of the United States, to be observed in the same 

 manner, as far as possible, as "Flag Daj^" and "Arbor Day." It is 

 believed that a general observance of such a day in the schools of 

 the United States would have the effect of increasing the knowledge 

 of and consequently the love for the American song birds, from 

 which might be expected to result a general disposition to foster 

 their propagation and punish those who kill them. In furtherance 

 of this plan the department has issued the following circular: 



"From all sides come reports of a decrease in native birds due to 

 the clearing of the forests, draining of the swamps and cultivation 

 of the land, but especially to the increasing slaughter of birds of 

 game, the demand for feathers to supply the millinery trade, and 

 the breaking up of the nests to gratify the egg-collecting proclivi- 

 ties of small boys. An attempt has been made to restrict these 

 latter causes by legislation. Nearly every state and territory has 

 passed game laws, and eeveral states have statutes protecting in- 

 sectivorous birds. Such laws are frequently changed and cannot 

 be expected to accomplish much unless supported by popular senti- 

 ment in favor of bird protection. This object can only be attained 

 by demonstrating to the people the value of birds — and how can it be 

 accomplished better than through the medium of the schools? 



"Briefly stated, the object of Bird Day is to diffuse knowledge con- 

 cerning our native birds and to arouse a more general interest in bird 

 protection. As such it should appeal not only to ornithologists, 

 sportsmen and farmers, who have a practical interest in the preser- 

 vation of birds, but also the general public, who would soon appre- 

 ciate the loss if the common songsters were exterminated. 



"It has been estimated recently that the forests and streams of 

 Maine are worth more than its agricultural resources. If this is so, 

 is it not equally as important to teach the best means of preserving 

 the timber, the game and the fish, as it is to teach the student how 

 to develop the agricultural wealth of the state? In 1885 Pennsyl- 

 vania passed its famous 'scalp act,' and in less than two j'ears 

 expended between $75,000 and $100,000 in an attempt to rid the state of 

 animals and birds supposed to be injurious. A large part of the 

 money was spent for killing hawks and owls, most of which were 

 afterwards shown to be actually beneficial. Not only was money 

 thrown away in a useless war against noxious animals, but the state 

 actually paid for the destruction of birds of inestimate value to its 

 farmers. During the last five or six years two states have been en- 

 gaged in an unsuccessful attempt to exterminate English sparrows 

 by paying bounties for their heads. Michigan and lUonois have 

 each spent more than $50,000, but, although millions of sparrows 

 have been killed, the decrease in numbers is hardly preceptible. A 

 more general knowledge of the habits of the English sparrow at the 

 time the bird was first introduced into the United States would not 

 only have saved this outlay of over $100,000, but would also have 

 save many other states from loss due to depredations by sparrows." 



