A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE 



DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS 



Official Organ of The Audubon Societies 



Vol. XX May— June, 1918 No. 3 



Three Years After* 



SOME NOTES ON BIRDCRAFT SANCTUARY, FAIRFIELD, CONN. 

 By MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT 



1'^HERE are many projects connected with all ethical movements, 

 covering some phases of general nature-study and bird-protection, 

 that are born of waves of enthusiasm and public acclaim and then, 

 lacking both nourishment and practical motive, cease to be. 



At the public opening of Birdcraft Sanctuary, over three years ago, en- 

 thusiasm there was and much praise for all the details of construction, but 

 certain ultra-practical folk put the question, "Exactly what do you expect to 

 accomplish in these ten acres that may not be compassed in any similar piece of 

 ground, without so much preparation and expense?" Also, "Will not the 

 nearby public in a short time tire of the limited museum exhibit and cease to 

 come?" 



To both these queries the answer was "We shall see; time only can prove." 

 Then those three having this side of the work in charge spent a greater part of 

 the first year in following the natural course of events in the Sanctuary, as 

 well as taking note of the people who visited the museum; the various comments 

 upon the work already done being a guide to what should be developed to 

 meet the popular needs, as well as those of bird-protection. 



It did not take us long to find that the general public can best be taught 

 to name the birds accurately from seeing them at close range in the museum, 

 for it requires a special aptitude to group markings and color scheme as shown 

 in a flitting wild bird, even when seen through a field-glass. 



But when half-a-dozen birds are studied at short range through the picture 

 groups in the cases, the novice has a series for mental comparison out-of- 

 doors. 



Straightway we added a second unit to the museum, to carry out in greater 

 detail the seasonal scheme of the first room. 



*BiRD-LoRE for July-August, 1915, published a paper by Mrs. Wright upon the inception and making 

 of Birdcraft Sanctuary, owned by the Audubon Society of the State of Connecticut. 



