zest of finding new things which must be searched for, something which re- 

 quires going after, and the necessity for exercise is forgotten in the interest 

 aroused by the ever receding bird. EnHst a child in bird study and the problem 

 of most serious importance to the parent, how to properly guard the developing 

 life and keep it away from evil influences, becomes greatly simplified. A boy 

 cannot be bad, nor stay bad, if he has a genuine interest in birds. They keep 

 his mind occupied and direct his energies into healthful channels. Life never 

 falls to a dead level to him who knows and loves the birds. Old age, as we 

 are wont to regard it, will never touch him, for he will not wish to live in the 

 past, but continue his interest in the present which will always be fresh and 

 filled with new things to learn. 



The study of birds does not require any unusual leisure. ^Fany business 

 men whose business demands practically their whole time and attention are 

 ardent lovers of the birds, and find the few moments of bird study each day 

 valuable to them in their hours of business. They are able to plan their few- 

 short vacations so they will count for the most. There is no haphazard effort 

 to get the most rest in the shortest time, requiring more effort to execute the 

 plan than the rest is worth, but the calm assurance that they are certainly to find 

 what they wnsh for. No one, no matter how busy, need think that for him 

 bird study is impossible, because some birds may be seen from an}' window. 

 Attention is the only requisite. Most present day bird students began their study 

 during their period of least leisure. 



The once almost continuous forests are rapidly disappearing, and with 

 them some of our birds, but there is a compensation in the appearance of many 

 others w^hich do not live in the forests. We are now passing through a tran- 

 sition period from the original conditions before the advent of the dominant 

 race to the modified conditions which he has made necessary. The rising gen- 

 eration W'ill see more changes in the birds of our state than we have or will 

 see. The birds will not disappear so long as there is the keen interest shown 

 in them which we see dawning today. Their friendshi]) and trust are worthy 

 of any eflfort which we may put forth. 



"Thou'lt break my heart, thou warbling bird, 

 That w'antons thro' the flowering thorn ; 

 Thou mind'st me of departed days, 

 Departed, never to return." 



— Robert Burns. 



Woodcock (Philohela minor) 



Range: Breeds from northeastern North Dakota, southern Manitoba, north- 

 ern Michigan, southern Quebec, and Nova Scotia south to southern Kansas, 

 southern Louisiana, and northern Florida; winters from southern Missouri. Ohio 

 Valley, and New Jersey south to Texas and southern Florida. 



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