14 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD STUDY 



The study of birds is of the utmost importance for every 

 young person, for youth is full of superabounding energy, which 

 must be expended in one direction or another. Any study that 

 takes one to woods and fields is not only a source of interest but 

 of health, and not only a present joy but also a delightful future 

 memory. There are few experiences that we remember with 

 greater pleasure in after years than our youthful field rambles 

 with some friend or chum. 



The study of either birds or flowers is an open door to 

 Nature's secrets. It leads us into sympathetic companionship 

 with every living thing, and this is a bubbling spring of interest, 

 rest and joy. We weary of work and we tire of people, but 

 whoever is intelligently sympathetic with Nature never tires of 

 her companionship. 



The writers always go on vacation in summer with a bird 

 book, a flower book, a tree book, a field glass and a camera. On 

 these trips they have met all sorts of people, some interested in 

 every tree, bush, flower and bird, as well as in hunting and 

 fishing. These interested people always have a good day 

 whether or not game is taken or fish is caught. Others are 

 dead to Nature; they know nothing of trees, bushes, flowers, 

 or birds, and have no interest in them : they usually return dis- 

 appointed and angry at night if fishing or hunting is poor. 



It is of little use to go to woods and fields unless one sees 

 and is alive to what one sees. Simply the rotation of the sea- 

 sons is a delight to every nature student. The first Robin, Blue- 

 bird and Meadowlark are old friends come back again and he 

 actually feels the joy of renewed companionship. When apples 

 are in blossom he looks for the many-colored Warblers to fill 

 the trees and is never disappointed ; he counts the days until he 

 shall hear the songs of Wood Thrush, Catbird and Oriole or, if 

 he is on the prairie, of the Bobolink and Lark Bunting. He 

 becomes the guardian and helper to Bluebirds and Wrens by 

 providing them with nesting houses, and his bird bath brings 

 under his observation all the different feathered folk in the 

 neighborhood. He watches the two bird processions meet in 



