176 DuTCHER, Report of Committee oti Bird Protection. fjun' 



Union elected enough new members to make the total present 

 membership reach the goodly number of nearly two hundred, and 

 it has also ratified all that has been done in connection with estab- 

 lishing an Audubon auxiliary in the State. 



"The amount of bird protection sentiment which we found in 

 the State Legislature was something most gratifying. There are 

 three members of the present State Legislature who are members 

 of our Society. 



"At the State Horticultural Society the sentiment in favor of 

 bird protection developed in the discussions was not only unani- 

 mous but surprisingly strong." 



The Department of Public Instruction has issued a pamphlet for 

 the use of the schools of the State, entitled ' Special Day Programs,' 

 among which is ' Bird Day '. Thirty-three pages of valuable orni- 

 thological matter is presented in a popular form that teachers can 

 use to advantage to interest and instruct the children. 



An independent society has been organized in Omaha that has 

 been doing an aggressive work among the children. The Secretary 

 presents the following very interesting report : 



"The Omaha Audubon Society was organized June 23, 1902. 

 In looking back over the fourteen months of the life of our Society, 

 the Secretary is more gratified than otherwise, not that we have 

 accomplished so very much, but that we are in a way now to do 

 much. 



"Our energies so far have been expended upon the children; 

 and we consider our greatest accomplishment the enrolling of over 

 ten thousand junior members last spring. More than fifteen 

 thousand Audubon buttons were sold to school children in the 

 year. We have chosen the Meadowlark as our representative bird ; 

 and his friends are many in the State. We enjoy the enthusiastic 

 cooperation of the teachers, many of whom are numbered among 

 our members. 



" During the year some thirty-five different schools were visited 

 by our President, Dr. Towne, and Vice-Presidents, Arthur Pearse 

 and Rev. John Williams. The children have taken up the work 

 with an enthusiasm very gratifying. We have gained the friendly 

 cooperation of the police and have printed over the signature of 

 the Chief of Police, warnings against the destruction of birds, their 



