278 Bird - Lore 
REPORT OF MISS GRETCHEN L. LIBBY 
During the past yeat, the work of your California Field Agent and School 
Secretary was limited to the southern part of the state, it being deemed wiser 
to work thoroughly one section of the state rather than try to cover a large 
territory superficially. 
Two hundred and thirty talks and lectures were given on the habits and 
value of birds, and means of attracting and protecting them. Among the organi- 
zations addressed were teachers’ and farmers’ institutes, clubs, junior and 
senior Audubon Societies, schools, library and parent-teachers’ associations 
and the State School Superintendents’ Convention. Twenty-five different 
towns and cities were visited, the combined audiences numbering about 
fourteen thousand persons. Many of the state and national Educational 
Leaflets and copies of bird laws were distributed. The valuable information 
which they contain has done much to spread a knowledge concerning the 
importance of bird life. 
A booklet entitled ‘“Lessons on Some of our Common Birds” was prepared 
by your agent for one of the county school superintendents, and this resulted 
in an added interest in bird study. Many teachers were also provided with 
a list of bird books and other helpful material, and an outline for the study 
of birds. 
Recognizing the importance of educating the boys and girls, my work 
as School Secretary has been most strongly emphasized. The systematic 
study of birds in the schools cannot fail to prove of real value, for in most 
cases the destruction of bird life by children is due to lack of knowledge. 
Once convince the boy of the important relation which birds bear to our 
every-day life, and he will change from one of their worst enemies to one of 
their best friends. In many cases, through the children we are also educating 
the men and women, for the child tells his parents of the thing that interests 
him in school. 
The plan has been to reach each school, if possible, in the towns and cities 
visited. As a result of the talks given, forty-six new Junior Audubon Socie- 
ties were organized, making the total junior membership for the state 3,135. 
The enthusiasm with which the children responded to the work, and the 
hearty support and codperation of teachers and superintendents, were very 
encouraging, and cannot fail to bring success to this branch of our work. 
Interesting reports were received from Junior Societies, telling of the 
changed attitude of the children toward bird life, and of the practical work 
which they are trying to do for bird protection. 
The results of teaching children the value of bird life cannot be over- 
estimated, for the protection of our birds in the future must depend upon 
the youth of today, our future agriculturists and law-makers. 
aS 
