THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 



A desire to preserve the vegetation in the Blue Hill 

 Reservation and in the many smaller private reserva- 

 tions, in or about our town, from the ravages of the 

 numerous insect pests, with the appreciation of the 

 hopelessness of controlling these pests by the methods 

 commonly used, is that which really led to the organi- 

 zation of the Brush Hill Bird Club. 



The appreciation of the great importance of the birds 

 in the control of insect life led to Mr. Ernest Harold 

 Baynes being invited to tell the residents of the Brush 

 Hill section of our town of the remarkable work in 

 attracting and preserving the birds that had been carried 

 on under his direction at Meriden, New Hampshire. 



His lecture was so hopeful and his suggestions so 

 practical that then and there a bird club was organized, 

 the Meriden Club being used as a model. Following 

 this, lectures were given by Mr. Edward Howe Forbush 

 and Mr. Winthrop Packard. With the assistance of 

 these three gentlemen our own work was encouraged. 



At the time of the organization, following the form of 

 the Meriden Club, a General Manager was chosen, and 

 that so much has been accomplished in the short time 

 in which the Club has been in existence is largely due to 

 the wisdom and untiring efforts of this officer. 



The work of the Club should be a great encouragement 

 to similar work in other communities and it should be 

 remembered that the work was started and has been 

 carried on very largely by those having previously had 

 little knowledge of birds or their habits. The problems 

 are so simple that very little scientific knowledge is 

 required while the benefits to a community in material 

 and aesthetic form are so great that it is the feeling of 

 our Club such work should be a part of every suburban 

 or rural community. 



Joel E. Goldthwait. 



ii 



