286 Bird - Lore 



gratulate themselves on the position we now occupy. We are no longer an experi- 

 ment, but are a dominating factor in good civics. With an endowment, safely- 

 invested, of nearly one-third of a million dollars, we have no fear for the future. 

 I do not wish this train of thought to mislead our members or the public, for we 

 are not yet endowed sufficiently, and we have but a very small part of the mem- 

 bership that we should have in order to do our best work. We have the experi- 

 ence and the equipment, and could largely increase our results did our own 

 means allow expansion. The membership of the National Association still 

 remains under r,ooo, notwithstanding the strong efforts that have been made 

 to increase it. The cause we advocate is so closely connected with the agricul- 

 tural and forestry interests of the country that it is one of the most important 

 now before the public. When we try to realize the enormous sum that is lost to 

 the country through insect and rodent pests, which the Government experts 

 tell us amounts to $800,000,000 annually, we are lost in wonder at the apathy of 

 the public. If a million or more dollars are lost through the mismanagement of 

 a bank or other fiduciary institution, it creates a wave of protest throughout 

 the entire country; yet a yearly loss equal to the entire capitalization of the 

 national banks of the country creates no comment whatever, simply because 

 the public do not realize what is going on. How to excite an interest in this 

 important matter is the function of this body, and to do it successfully we 

 need more money and a largely increased membership. In this connection, it 

 is proper to mention a misapprehension that has arisen in the minds of some 

 persons, notably among some of our oldest and heretofore most liberal contrib- 

 utors. They evidently believe that, as the Association has an endowment, there 

 is no need for further funds with which to carry on the work. There certainly 

 cannot be a more mistaken idea than this. As a matter of fact, as the Society 

 grows older and more widely known, the demands upon it become daily 

 more exacting and its opportunities for doing good increase far more rapidly 

 than its resources. Our outlay during the past year was some thousands of 

 dollars more than our income, but the demands upon us were of such vital 

 importance that they could not be overlooked. Had we not responded, the 

 cause of bird protection would have suffered a setback which would take years 

 to overcome. 



Right here is the proper time to emphasize the need for a far larger field staff: 

 many parts of the country that need educational work cannot be touched, owing 

 to the inability of this Association to set aside the necessary funds to employ 

 additional expert aid. 



We have reached the extreme limit possible until our income is largely in- 

 creased. Here is an opportunity for some of the wealthy philanthropists of the 

 country to place some of their riches where it will be doing the greatest amount 

 of good. 



To what object could a person contribute where the results for good would 

 be greater? 



