^°'i^J'^ ] Chisholm, Bird Protection in Queensland. 23Q 



Bird Protection in Queensland.* 

 By a. H. Chisholm. 



Appreciative interest in birds, so strongly stimulated in Queens- 

 land during the latter part of 1916, showed no diminution in the 

 following year. As a matter of course, the enthusiasm was 

 mainly in evidence among the school children, who, fired by the 

 very comprehensive series of articles, stories, verse, and photo- 

 graphs tendered them in the Bird Day School Papers, joined the 

 Gould League of Bird Lovers in large numbers. Approximately 

 4,000 additional enrolments were made in the two months fol- 

 lowing the issue of these Papers, and, as showing the solid 

 foundation upon which this interest rests, random extracts from 

 some of the letters received in connection with these enrolments 

 are here given : — 



Rolleston (Central North District). — " We have grown over 

 ninety trees in the school ground, of which sixty are fit for birds 

 to build their nests in. During the last eighteen months eight 

 birds built in them. At the present time we have Finches 

 building. Flower-peckers rearing their young, and Parrakeets, 

 Martins, and Willie Wagtails with their full-grown young in the 

 school ground. At the schoolmaster's residence Chestnut-eared 

 Finches have built their nests in each of the four corners of the 

 verandah, and reared their young during the last two seasons. 

 In this district birds have increased in numbers considerably 

 during the past two years. With the exception of Canaries, we 

 are pleased to say there are no caged birds about the school 

 district. All thoughts of caging wild birds have been given up." 



Mackay District. — " The children here take an active interest 

 in their local birds. It is a common occurrence to see several 

 birds walking in and out of a group of children, eating the crumbs 

 dropped at lunch-time." 



Cooyar District. — " It fills me with pleasure to know the 

 children are so unanimous in their desire to protect the birds, as 

 many native birds are found in this locality. Even in the school 

 grounds and about the school garden many varieties may be seen." 



Crow's Nest District. — ■' The children here have always been 

 taught by me to care for the birds, and, though our ornamental 

 trees are very young, we have several nests in them. Flocks of 

 Wrens, Diamonds, and other small birds are always around the 

 school, and we have not an insect left on our rose-bushes, proving 

 what a benefit they are." 



Jondaryan District. — " The children at this school are very 

 interested in birds. There are two nests in the bush house made 

 by the little Yellow-breasts. At present the birds are hatching." 



In addition to the medium of the School Papers, the Gould 

 League of Bird Lovers reached teachers and the public generally 

 through a series of public lectures during the cooler months, and 



* Supplementary to notes in Emu, vol. xvi., p. 186. 



