INTRODUCTION 



ME dead body of a California woodpecker with the bruised 

 form showing only too plainly the work of the small boy 

 and his dangerous slingshot caused us to look into the 

 ways and means of handling such ever-occurring inci- 

 dents. A prominent attorney was consulted, and he re- 

 marked, "Of course if meadowlarks and woodpeckers 

 are killed, no one should care," whereupon we tried to 

 show him his error. 



The ignorance regarding the economic value of our 

 songsters is woefully manifest. Selfish and faulty obser- 

 vation condemns many birds unjustly. Unfortunately 

 and unlike other animals, what little harm our birds do is done noisily, 

 while the good, results from quiet, busy work. 



We are prone to have abnormally sharp eyes when touched in 

 a selfish way, but dull eyes when we are losing nothing. The opened 

 eyes of the farmer see the meadow larks gather a few grains during 

 the seeding season, but fail to see the same birds working -in the 

 field, day after day eating grasshopper after grasshopper, during the 

 other seasons of the year, and the birds are condemned to the rifle. 

 The selfish eye sees the woodpecker peck a hole in the barn, but fails 

 to notice the disappearing codling moths and other destructive insects. 

 The problem of arousing interest in bird life with the subsequent 

 change of a biased view is a large one, but can be solved if the school 

 children will help. 



There are too many courses of study in the general school system 

 that seize the child on his first day at school, place him in a school- 

 room high chair, and feed him ever after on books. All roads lead to 

 the high chair. The schools should not wean the child from all large, 

 active things, but rather should center or focus such upon the child 

 continuously. 



The aim of this booklet and supplement is to create an interest in 

 birds, toward the end of their protection, and to bring the children 

 from the schoolroom to the living outdoors. 



Why Birds Should Be Protected 



Do you know of anything that combines such joyous qualities, such 

 delicate and gorgeous colors Nature has drawn most lavishly from 

 her ^experimenting palette, the twilight sky such grace in movement, 

 and such gift of song as do the birds? 



If you were one of these "sky gems" sitting in the morning light, 

 singing to your mate, and she secure in your love, answering in sweet 

 bird talk, when suddenly into this beautiful world should come the 

 dreaded "crack," and your mate with eyes full of agony should fall 



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