34 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



The Protection department of the club has had sparrow traps 

 made which have been passed around over the city and are doing 

 active service in getting rid of the English sparrow, one man 

 having disposed of about 500 of these birds. An effort was made 

 to get a city cat ordinance, but the city attorney reported that a 

 cat law cannot be successful until there is a state law upon which 

 to base enforcement. 



The Club hikes have been an important feature in the club's 

 bird study. Two hikes were taken each Sunday, morning and 

 afternoon, from March 13 to May 20, all of the common birds 

 having been seen and more rare ones were seen passing through 

 our locality. It was learned that one member of the club has 

 seen a pair of mocking birds every month in the year on his 

 farm one mile north of Decatur. Few in our vicinity knew that 

 the mocking bird nested in our locality, to say nothing of look- 

 ing upon it as a permanent resident. The nest of a blue grey 

 gnat catcher was found by two members of the club, the only 

 ones of that variety reported in this vicinity. 



The Decatur club has had a rare advantage in the bird song 

 study that has proved fascinating. The President of the club, 

 Mr. W. B. Olds, Professor of singing in the Millikin Conservatory 

 of Music, has made a special study of bird songs, composing 

 charming studies based on bird song themes. Mr. Old's recital of 

 his songs was a much enjoyed program. These songs are sung 

 effectively by several of the young women students and are used 

 in Millikin kindergarten. The study of the bird song has given 

 an added charm to the study of our feathered friends. 



That the interest in birds is growing in Decatur is evidenced 

 by the fact that many homes have become veritable bird sanct- 

 uaries, the drinking and bathing pan being always supplied with 

 water and shrubbery is planted that gives the needful food and 

 protection. 



Report of the Committee on Trees of tne Decatur Bird Club 



This committee has concentrated its efforts along two lines, 

 in addition to efforts to advance a general knowledge of trees 

 among its members. 



In the fall of 1920, The Bureau of Plant Industry, at Wash- 

 ington, sent forty-five slides for an illustrated address on the 

 "Value of Nut Trees for Food and Shade." The address was 

 delivered before the Macon County Farm Bureau. It was in- 

 tended to show how the farm homes could be made more at- 

 tractive by planting nut trees about the home, such as the Alm- 

 ond, Walnut, Filbert, Hazelnut, Chestnut, Pecan, Chinquapin, 

 Hickory, Butternut and Persimmon, instead of the Box Elder, 

 Soft Maple and the Poplars. 



It was also shown that rough pasture land which is not cap- 

 able of cultivation, could be made more profitable if planted to 

 nut trees, than choice land planted to corn or wheat. 



