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Birds are of inestimable value to mankind. Without their unremitting services 
our gardens and fields would be laid waste by insect pests. But we owe them 
a greater debt even than this, for the study of birds tends to develop some 
of the best attributes and impulses of our natures. Among them we find 
examples of generosity, unselfish devotion, of the love of mother for offspring and 
other estimable qualities. Their industry, patience, and ingenuity excite our 
admiration ; their songs inspire us with a love of music and poetry; their beautiful 
plumages and graceful manners appeal to our esthetic sense; their long migra¬ 
tions to distant lands stimulate our imaginations and tempt us to inquire into 
the causes of these periodic movements, and finally, the endless modifications of 
form and habits by which they are enabled to live under most diverse condi¬ 
tions of food and climate—on land and at sea — invite the student of nature into 
inex haustible fields of pleasurable research. 
The cause of bird protection is one that appeals to the best side of our natures. 
Let us yield to the appeal. Let us have a Bird Bay—a day set apart from all the 
other days of the year to tell the children about the birds. But we must not stop 
here. AVe should strive continually to develop and intensify the sentiment of 
bird protection, not alone for the sake of preserving the birds, but also for the sake 
of replacing as far as possible the barbaric impulses inherent in child nature by 
the nobler impulses and aspirations that should characterize advanced civilization. 
Bespectfully, J. Sterling Morton, 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
Of the success of this first experiment there can be no question. “The day 
was observed in the Oil City schools with a degree of enthusiasm which 
was good to see. The amount of information about birds that was collected 
by the children was simply amazing. Original compositions were read, informal 
discussions were held, talks by teachers were given, and the birds in literature 
were not forgotten or overlooked. * * * The idea simply needs to be known 
to meet with a warm welcome akin to that with which we greet our first robin 
or song sparrow in the spring.”—(Journal of Education, May 24, 1894.) 
Bird Day was observed in 1895 and again on May 8, 1896, with such success 
that it bids fair to become a regular feature of the schools in Oil City at least. In 
speaking of the third anniversary, Superintendent Babcock says: 
The exercises this year (1896), as upon previous ones, varied somewhat in the 
different grades. They consisted of original compositions by the pupils, contain¬ 
ing the results of their observations of birds, of talks by pupils and teachers, 
comparing observations, giving localities of bird haunts, and general exchange 
of bird loi’e ; of recitations from eminent prose writers on birds, and from 
the poets ; finally many of our schools closed their exercises by a trip to the 
woods to listen to the vesper concert of our feathered brothers. * * * AA r e 
begin the study of birds on January 1 and continue till June, studying those that 
stay all winter and trying to keep account of the newcomers as they arrive. AVe 
devote two periods, of twenty minutes each, per week to this study. Bird Day is 
a summary or focusing of the work of the year. * * * The results of bird study 
and of Bird Day are interesting. Our children generally know most of our bird 
residents, they also love them, and feel like protecting them. There has been a 
complete change in the relations existing between the small boy and the birds. 
Other suggestions regarding the study of birds and the observance of the day 
will be found in an interesting article on Bird Day by Superintendent Babcock, 
in the Journal of Education for April 4,1895. 
Last spring (1896) the movement was started in Iowa by Prof. C. H Morrill, 
superintendent of schools at Fort Aladison, who was apparently unaware of the 
experiment in Pennsylvania. He set apart May 29, 1896, as Bird Day in the 
schools under his jurisdiction, and describes the result as follows: 
I never saw children more enthusiastic in preparation or happier in rendering. 
They brought their pet birds, they decorated the rooms with flowers and green 
branches, they ornamented the boards with drawings of birds, birds’ nests, flowers, 
etc. * * * The buildings rang with bird music all day, the children were 
qappier than ever before, and visitors came until standing space in many rooms 
was at a premium. * * * It is safe to say that we shall celebrate the day next 
year. I hope it may come to be a national day. 
The Department has also received inquiries concerning Bird Day from Con¬ 
necticut, and the matter is attracting attention in Nebraska. Professor Lawrence 
