10 P.D. 123 



The work of completing the manuscript, correcting proof, etc., will take 

 the full time of three persons throughout much of 1929. 



The principal activities of the Division of Ornithology can be briefly- 

 summarized as "the collection and dissemination of information regard- 

 ing the birds of Massachusetts." In the beginning this work was very 

 largely concerned with the relations of birds to the farmer, gardener and 

 forester, but as time has passed the scope of the work has broadened and 

 the value of the Division to the people of Massachusetts and in fact to all 

 of New England, has been greatly increased. 



Much of the information which the Division has collected is the result 

 of personal investigations of members of the staff of the Division. Of 

 especial importance are the studies of the food habits and the economic 

 status of the birds. Many field trips have been made by the Director or 

 his assistants, often in direct response to requests for help in solving 

 problems which arise in connection with birds. Another valuable source 

 of information is found in our large group of correspondents who send 

 to us the results of their observations on birds and their habits. A large 

 part of the time of the Director is now occupied in carrying on this cor- 

 respondence and in answering questions. 



The Dissemination of Bird Information 



As one means of disseminating the information gathered from the 

 above sources, the Director prepares each month a circular letter, called 

 "Items of Interest", the issue of November, 1928, being Number Ninety 

 in the series. This mimeographed letter, of from four to eight pages in 

 length, contains a summary of our reports on bird movements during the 

 preceding month, a section devoted to "Notes from Observers", brief 

 "Bird Banding Notes", (the Division serves as headquarters for the 

 Northeastern Bird Banding Association), "Conservation Notes", etc., 

 and is sent to all our regular correspondents, nearly seven hundred in all, 

 and to a number of newspapers and periodicals. It serves largely as a 

 "clearing house" for bird news throughout New England and even beyond 

 our borders. The Director recentlj^ received a clipping from Queensland, 

 Australia, which quoted an article in our "Items of Interest." 



The new Director, Dr. May, is taking up again some of the departments 

 of the work of the Division which of necessity had been somewhat cur- 

 tailed of late by Mr. Forbush, under the pressure of preparing "The 

 Birds of Massachusetts." Many lectures are planned by Dr. May and his 

 assistant, Mrs. Harrington, before members of the Grange, Four-H Gar- 

 den Clubs, agricultural and horticultural societies, fruit-growers associ- 

 ations, fish and game clubs, conservation organizations, scout groups, 

 schools, and others. Several radio talks have been given, as well as lec- 

 tures under various auspices, on the work of the Division and on the im- 

 portant relations between Birds and Man. 



In past years the Division has prepared and printed several pamphlets 

 dealing with the activities of birds, or with their conservation. These 

 have proved very popular and in some cases have been repeatedly re- 

 printed. The Director believes that the purposes for which the Division 

 of Ornithology was founded, would be better carried on if certain of 

 these pamphlets, now out of print, were re-printed, and if other pam- 

 phlets, relating to phases of economic and popular ornithology, were pre- 

 pared. 



DIVISION OF PLANT PEST CONTROL 



Nursery Inspection 



It seems as if Massachusetts has in the past twenty-five years, had 

 more than her share of insect pests and plant diseases. In view of this 

 fact our nurserymen should be congratulated on their spirit and determi- 

 nation in carrying on their business with sudli odds facing them. On the 



