34 THE AMID UvB OO NB sets ie eee 
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 citv 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 Mav 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 the 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. 
