14 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 
THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD STUDY 
The study of birds is of the utmost importance for every 
young person, for youth is full of superabounding energy, which 
must be expended in one direction or another. Any study that 
takes one to woods and fields is not only a source of interest but 
of health, and not only a present joy but also a delightful future 
memory. There are few experiences that we remember with 
greater pleasure in after years than our youthful field rambles 
with some friend or chum. 
The study of either birds or flowers is an open door to 
Nature’s secrets. It leads us into sympathetic companionship 
with every living thing, and this is a bubbling spring of interest, 
rest and joy. We weary of work and we tire of people, but 
whoever is intelligently sympathetic with Nature never tires of 
her companionship. 
The writers always go on vacation in summer with a bird 
book, a flower book, a tree book, a field glass and a camera. On 
these trips they have met all sorts of people, some interested in 
every tree, bush, flower and bird, as well as in hunting and 
fishing. These interested people always have a good day 
whether or not game is taken or fish is caught. Others are 
dead to Nature; they know nothing of trees, bushes, flowers, 
or birds, and have no interest in them: they usually return dis- 
appointed and angry at night if fishing or hunting is poor. 
It is of little use to go to woods and fields unless one sees 
and is alive to what one sees. Simply the rotation of the sea- 
sons is a delight to every nature student. The first Robin, Blue- 
bird and Meadowlark are old friends come back again and he 
actually feels the joy of renewed companionship. When apples 
are in blossom he looks for the many-colored Warblers to fill 
the trees and is never disappointed; he counts the days until he 
shall hear the songs of Wood Thrush, Catbird and Oriole or, if 
he is on the prairie, of the Bobolink and Lark Bunting. He 
becomes the guardian and helper to Bluebirds and Wrens by 
providing them with nesting houses, and his bird bath brings 
under his observation all the different feathered folk in the 
neighborhood. He watches the two bird processions meet in 
