258 HOW TO STUDY BIRDS 



The usual method is to select certain species of 

 birds which are common in the locality and learn the 

 main facts of their lives, as far as possible from 

 personal observation of the living birds. If they 

 know the bird in life, they are apt to be interested 

 in it, and are glad to supplement their knowledge of 

 their little friend by what they can read or hear. In 

 connection with this study of specific kinds of birds, 

 teachers also impart general information as to such 

 matters as food, travels, nesting, structure, classifica- 

 tion, and so on, according to the grade of the pupils, 

 and in a style adapted to their age. 



Whenever it is possible, the teacher should show 

 children the birds outdoors. This is often impos- 

 sible, yet in the country birds can frequently be found 

 right around the schoolhouse. I was once visiting a 

 school close by which there were blossoming apple- 

 trees, which were fairly alive with migrant warblers 

 and other resident birds, and I was able to point out 

 to the children quite a number of kinds right from 

 the window. The teacher should try to know at least 

 the more common birds from life. A school super- 

 intendent, in visiting a certain school, heard the 

 teacher give a lesson on the house wren. She was 

 doing it from a book, while all the time a wren was 

 singing lustily close by an open window. The 

 teacher, in reply to a question by the supervisor, who 

 knew the bird, replied that she had never seen a 

 wren and had never heard its song! 



Miss Abby P. Churchill, instructor in natural 



