FURTHER SUGGESTIONS

VI. DIRECTIONS FOR WRITTEN WORK

VII. PROGRAMS FOR BIRD DAY

VIII. THE POETS AND THE BIRDS

IX. OBJECTS AND RESULTS OF BIRD DAY

X. SOME REPRESENTATIVE BIRDS

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PART I

BIRD DAY. HOW TO PREPARE FOR IT

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BIRD DAY

HOW TO PREPARE FOR IT

I

HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT FOR "BIRD DAY"

In the spring of 1894 the writer's attention was attracted to the
interest of the children in that part of their nature study which
related to birds. Their descriptions of the appearance and habits of
the birds they had observed were given with evident pleasure. They had
a strong desire to tell what they had seen, not in the spirit of
rivalry, but with the wish of adding to the knowledge of a subject in
which all were equally interested.

It was thought that this work would be done with even more
effectiveness if a day were appointed to be celebrated as "Bird Day."
With the hope of making a memorable occasion of the day for those
taking part in it, several of the noted friends of birds were asked to
write something to the children, and to give their opinion of the
introduction of "Bird Day" into the schools.

Secretary J. Sterling Morton, the father of "Arbor Day," responded
with the following earnest letter, which was at once given to the
public through Washington dispatches, and later was sent out from the
Department of Agriculture, in circular No. 17:--

WASHINGTON, D. C., April 23, 1894.

MR. C. A. BABCOCK, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, OIL CITY, PA.

_Dear Sir_,--Your proposition to establish a "Bird Day" on
the same general plan as "Arbor Day," has my cordial
approval.

Such a movement can hardly fail to promote the development
of a healthy public sentiment toward our native birds,
favoring their preservation and increase. If directed toward
this end, and not to the encouragement of the importation of
foreign species, it is sure to meet the approval of the
American people.

It is a melancholy fact that among the enemies of our birds
two of the most destructive and relentless are our women and
our boys. The love of feather ornamentation so heartlessly
persisted in by thousands of women, and the mania for
collecting eggs and killing birds so deeply rooted in our
boys, are legacies of barbarism inherited