278 



Bird - Lore 



their interest. Some of our members may 

 feel that they are doing very little personal 

 work, and do not even see the work which 

 they are making possible, but I cannot em- 

 phasize too strongly the fact that they are 

 supporting a constructive piece of public 

 education which has already won a place for 

 itself in the community. 



"When the Bird Club was first organized, 

 its President, Colonel Roosevelt, was anxious 

 to have the membership extend over the 

 whole of Long Island, and to have the mem- 

 bers develop local groups giving special at- 

 tention to the problems of each district. The 

 first part of this wish is being realized as 

 there are fifty-two villages represented in the 

 Club, and each year new members come in 

 from new districts; but to form active local 

 groups required an amount and a kind of 

 leadership which has not been easily found, 

 and it has seemed that the work which was 

 begun last year in the public schools had a 

 more far-reaching possibility and would more 

 quickly interest a larger number than any 

 other plan which the Club could undertake. 



"The program thus initiated has proved 

 even more successful than was expected. 

 With the cooperation and financial assistance 

 of the National Association of Audubon So- 

 cieties, the Field Agent, Mrs. M. S. Sage, has 

 gone from one end of the Island to the other, 

 with most encouraging results. 



"During the months of the school year of 

 1919-20 she spoke to more than 10,000 chil- 

 dren. During the year just closing her 

 audiences have totaled more than 20,000. 

 In 1919-20, 102 Junior Audubon Classes, 

 with a membership of 3,023 were formed for 

 six to ten weeks' study in the schools, because 

 of the interest created by Mrs. Sage in her 

 talks to the public. This year 142 classes 

 have been organized, with a membership of 

 4,269. A greater number of talks have been 

 given, by request, in private houses to groups 

 of members, to clubs and associations such 

 as the Home Bureau, the State Institute of 

 Applied Agriculture of Farmingdale, at the 

 Children's Home in Mineola, to the Woman's 

 Club in Great Neck, and in a number of the 

 parochial schools. 



"Gratifying as this increase in number is, 

 even more so is the increased interest shown 



by all sorts of people, and which can only be 

 known to the ofiicers who receive the requests 

 for information of every kind and the expres- 

 sions of appreciation for service rendered. 

 Much information has been sent out in 

 regard to planting for the attraction and pro- 

 tection of birds, directions for the placing of 

 nesting-boxes and for winter feeding. Several 

 hundred placards have been issued stating 

 the law concerning the sale and carrying of 

 weapons and the list of protected birds. 

 These have been welcomed by the schools and 

 game-wardens, and have been hung in post- 

 offices and railway stations. 



"An interesting conference was held with 

 the officers of the Forest Hills Audubon 

 Society, who presented a suggestion for se- 

 curing the cooperation of golf and country 

 clubs in protecting birds and for planting 

 along the borders of their property trees and 

 shrubs which will provide shelter and winter 

 food. The two bird clubs hope to enlist the 

 interest and action of all the country clubs 

 on Long Island. 



"Mrs. Sage announced that photographs 

 of children with birds on their hands, if clear 

 enough, will be made into slides and shown 

 with her collection. A number have been 

 sent in and have been much appreciated, 

 indicating, as they do, patience, persistence, 

 and concentration on the part of the children. 

 To succeed at last in photographing a bird 

 means a great many efi'orts. 



"We record with regret the death of John 

 Lewis Childs, of Floral Park, the well-known 

 horticulturist. Mr. Childs was one of the 

 charter members of the Club and was un- 

 failing in his interest and in his desire to 

 further the work of the Club. In the death of 

 Henry de Forest Weeks, of Oyster Bay, the 

 Club has also lost a loyal friend. 



"The membership is growing slowly, and 

 it is hoped that many more will come in this 

 year. Thirty have been added to the list 

 since the last annual report. There have 

 been seven resignations. The total member- 

 ship is now 357, divided among fifty- two 

 places. A large proportion of the charter life 

 members have become sustaining members 

 as well, thus making it possible for us to 

 undertake the work in the schools. As will 

 appear, however, in the report of the Treas- 



