Part 12
The only way to accomplish this, to my thinking, is to take the children out-of-doors and introduce them to the 'bird in the bush,' to the bird as a citizen of a social world as real in all its duties and requirements as our own.
There is a group of people with ultra-theoretical tendencies, who insist upon considering the bird merely as a feathered vertebrate that must not be in any way humanized, or taken from its perch in the evolutionary scheme, to be brought to the plane of our daily lives. In teaching children, I believe in striving to humanize the bird as far as is consistent with absolute truth, that the child may, through its own love of home, parents, and its various desires, be able to appreciate the corresponding traits in the bird. How can this best be done? By reading to children? That is one way; and good, accurate, and interesting bird books are happily plentiful. But when the out-door season comes, little heads grow tired of books, and anything that seems like a lesson is repugnant.
Then comes the chance to form a bird class, or a bird party, if the word class seems too formidable. A dozen children are quite enough to be easily handled. The ages may range from six to twelve. Arrange to have them meet outdoors once a week, in the morning, during June and July. A pleasant garden or a vineclad piazza will do for a beginning; it is inadvisable to tire children by taking them far afield until they have learned to identify a few very common birds in their natural surroundings.
Children who are familiar with even the very best pictures of birds must at first be puzzled by seeing the real bird at a distance, and perhaps partly screened by foliage. The value of the out-door bird class is, that to be successful it must teach rapid and accurate personal observation.
"Very true," you say, "but the birds will not stay still while the children are learning to observe." Yes; yet this difficulty may be met in two ways. If you are so situated that you can borrow say twenty-five mounted birds from a museum or the collection of a friend, you will have a very practical outfit.
Choose four or five birds, not more for one day, take them outdoors, and place them in positions that shall resemble their natural haunts as much as possible. For example, place the Song Sparrow in a little bush, the Bluebird on a post, and the Chippy on a path. Let the children look at them near by and then at a distance, so that a sense of proportion and color value will be developed unconsciously.
After this, the written description of the habits of the birds, which you must read or tell the children, will have a different meaning. This method may be varied by looking up live specimens of the birds thus closely observed.
"True," you say again, "but I cannot beg or borrow any mounted birds."
Then take the alternative. Buy from the Massachusetts Audubon Society, 234 Berkeley St., Boston, for a dollar, one of its Audubon Bird Charts. This chart is printed in bright colors and is accompanied by a little pamphlet describing the twenty-six common birds that are figured. These are the (1) Downy Woodpecker, (2) Flicker, (3) Chimney Swift, (4) Ruby-throated Hummingbird, (5) Kingbird, (6) Bluejay, (7) Bobolink, (8) Red-winged Blackbird, (9) Baltimore Oriole, (10) Purple Finch, (11) American Goldfinch, (12) Chipping Sparrow, (13) Song Sparrow, (14) Scarlet Tanager, (15) Barn Swallow, (16) Cedar Bird, (17) Red-eyed Vireo, (18) Black and White Warbler, (19) Yellow Warbler, (20) Catbird, (21) House Wren, (22) Chickadee, (23) Golden-crowned Kinglet, (24) Wood Thrush, (25) American Robin, (26) Bluebird. Cut the birds carefully from the chart, back them with cardboard, and either mount them on little wooden blocks, like paper dolls, or arrange them with wires, so that they can be fastened to twigs or bushes.
You will be surprised to find how this scheme will interest the children, who may be allowed sometimes to place the birds themselves.
For those too old for the cut-out pictures, the teachers' edition of 'Bird-Life', with the colored plates in portfolios, will be found invaluable. The separate pictures may be taken outdoors and placed in turn on an easel behind a leaf-covered frame, with excellent effects--a few natural touches and the transition from indoors out often changing one's entire point of view.
One thing bearing on the question of bird study. If children ask you questions that you cannot answer as they surely will, do not hesitate to say "I don't know." Never fill their minds with fables guised as science, that they must unlearn.
Now a material point. When you have entertained your class for an hour, never more, lend the affair a picnic ending and give them a trifling lunch before they go; something very simple will do--cookies and milk, or even animal crackers!
The young animal of the human species, as well as many others, is a complexity of stomach and brain, and it is well to administer food to each in just proportion.
M. O. W.
Reports of Societies
WISCONSIN SOCIETY
Mrs. Elizabeth W. Peckham, secretary of the Wisconsin Society, sends to Mr. Stone the first annual report of that body, from which we extract the following:
"This society was organized April 20, 1897. The first efforts of the executive board were in the direction of securing the coöperation of the press in this city and throughout the state. The response was most generous, and it is probable that more effective work has been done through this agency than in any other way.
"The next appeal was to clergymen of all denominations, who were asked to preach upon the fashion of wearing wild bird feathers. Here, again, they received valuable aid and encouragement.
"In May, 100 circulars were sent to Milwaukee milliners, asking their assistance in the work of reform, and announcing that there would be held, in the fall, an Audubon millinery opening. This opening, which took place in October, was well attended, and served its purpose in calling attention to the existence and meaning of the society.
"The coöperation of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and also of the Board of School Directors of this city, has been secured. The response of the Milwaukee School Board was especially cordial and encouraging. Talks upon the subject of bird protection have already been given in several of the city schools, and it is intended that the main work of the society for the coming year shall be done among the teachers and school children of the state.
"The society is much to be congratulated in that, before it came into existence, Bird Day had been established in Wisconsin. We can only appreciate our good fortune in this respect by noting the difficulties that are thrown in the way of the Audubon societies of other states when they attempt to win the consent of their legislatures to this step. We owe this great advantage to Mr. J. E. Morgan, of Sauk county.
"Although our Audubon Society is one of the largest in the United States, we are working under great disadvantages, since we have, so far as we can discover, the smallest income of them all. In order that no one may be excluded, we have made our life membership fee exceedingly small, so that it brings in an amount quite insufficient to meet the expenses of printing, buying and distributing literature. We therefore make an earnest appeal to intelligent men and women to become members of the society, or to send us contributions of money. We are especially anxious to increase the number of our associate members, who pay one dollar a year, and thus provide us with a steady income."
Mrs. Peckham reports a total membership of 5,141, and writes that since the publication of the report from which we have just quoted, "through the coöperation of our State Superintendent of Public Instruction, our society has formed 175 branches among the school children. These branch societies include over four thousand members, including teachers and children."
NEW HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY
On the 6th day of April, 1897, at the call of Mrs. Arthur E. Clarke, a meeting was held at her residence in Manchester, for the purpose of organizing the New Hampshire Audubon Society, which was duly accomplished.
The work of the society throughout the state is carried on by means of branch societies, the presidents of which act as vice-presidents of the state society; or, when this is not practicable, local secretaries are appointed to carry on the work, and such secretaries have already been appointed in more than twenty places.
Special pains has been taken to influence the children in the public schools. A junior Audubon society was early formed, and a very interesting meeting was held in June, 1897, at which about three hundred school children were present. A similar meeting was held in June, 1898, and it is proposed to hold others from time to time.
With the same end in view, an 'Outline of Bird Study' was prepared for use in the schools.
At the suggestion of the society, extracts from the game laws of the state, relating to penalties for the destruction of song birds and their eggs, have been posted in conspicuous places, thanks to the prompt and energetic action of the street and park commissioners. Similar action has been taken in various other cities and towns.
Lectures were given by Mrs. Orinda Hornbrooke, Mrs. Alice Freeman Palmer, on 'The Educational Side of Bird Protection,' and by Mrs. Harriet E. Richards, secretary of the Massachusetts society, on the general work of the Audubon societies.
The society has distributed nearly 7,000 leaflets and circulars, several of them having been procured of the United States government, through the kindness of our members of Congress.
An additional circular has recently been issued in which prizes are offered to the school children of New Hampshire on the following conditions: Two prizes, one of ten dollars and one of five dollars to children over twelve and under seventeen years of age; and two more, one of five dollars and one of three dollars to children under twelve years of age. These prizes are to be awarded for the best compositions on 'Birds,' the compositions to be written as the result of personal observation, the contest to close January 1, 1900.
The society has adopted the bird chart lately published by the Massachusetts Society, and is introducing it as rapidly as possible into the schools of the state.
Annie V. Batchelder, _Sec'y._
A Message from Madame Lehmann
At the second annual meeting of the New York State Audubon Society, Madame Lilli Lehmann, whose love of animals is perhaps even greater than her love of music, made an eloquent appeal to women to cease from feather-wearing, which she characterized as a form of barbarism, and to aid the Audubon Societies in their efforts to protect the birds.
Through the editor of Bird-Lore, she sends to the Audubon Societies the following message, the tenor of which, it will be noticed, is in close accord with the views of the editor of this Department, as expressed in the last issue of this Journal.--F. M. C.
Madame Lehmann writes: "Tell the Societies that I take the greatest interest in their work, that I do everything I can, and every minute, if the occasion offers, to protect the birds.
"Tell them, also, that it is the duty of everyone to _speak_ and to _do_ something every day for the cause; that it is not sufficient to give a dollar or two--that alone will never help us. It is the living word, the reasons given, the good example and the _teaching_ to everyone that can bring us further in civilization."
Two New Audubon Societies
We announce with pleasure the formation of Audubon Societies in Texas and in California. The Texas Society was organized on March 4, at Galveston, with Miss Cecile Seixas as secretary. The organization of the California Society was lately completed at Redland, with Mrs. Geo. S. Gay as secretary. The addresses of the secretaries of these societies are given in our 'Directory,' and we trust that they will receive the coöperation of all bird-lovers in their respective states.
American Society of Bird Restorers
A report of the work of the American Society of Bird Restorers, prepared by Mr. Fletcher Osgood, its organizer and manager, will appear in Bird-Lore for August.
Birds and Farmers
It is pleasing to know that some farmers are awakening to the fact that birds are an important factor in agriculture. At the last monthly meeting of the Farmers' Club of the American Institute of New York, the subject for discussion was "Birds and Their Relation to Agriculture." The subject was introduced by Mr. N. Hallock, who presented a well prepared paper giving much valuable information regarding birds as insect destroyers. These statistics were from publications of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture and from his own observations. He strongly urged the protection of all birds from the farmer's standpoint. The paper was then discussed by the members present. Mr. William Dutcher, of the Executive Committee of the New York Audubon Society, who was present, addressed the Club, elaborating some of the statements in the paper under discussion and emphasizing the fact that every bird an agriculturist permitted to be killed on his farm was a direct loss to him in money value.
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Nature Study For Grammar Grades
_A Manual for the Guidance of Pupils below the High School in the Study of Nature_
BY
WILBUR S. JACKMAN, A.B.
Dep't of Natural Science, Chicago Normal School
Author of "Nature Study for the Common Schools," "Nature Study and Related Subjects," "Nature Study Record," "Field Work in Nature Study," etc.
_REVISED EDITION_
In preparing this Manual, it has been the author's aim to propose, within the comprehension of grammar school pupils, a few of the problems which arise in a thoughtful study of nature, and to offer suggestions designed to lead to their solution.
That pupils need some rational and definite directions in nature study, all are generally agreed. But to prepare the outlines and suggestive directions necessary, and to place these within the reach of each pupil, is more than any ordinary teacher has time to do, even granting that she is fully prepared for such work. The utter futility of depending upon oral suggestions during the class hour, when the pupils are supposed to be doing individual work, is easily apparent on a moment's reflection. With a manual of directions in hand, each pupil may be made strictly responsible for a certain amount of work, either in the field or in the laboratory. This removes all occasion for that interruption in his work, which is, otherwise, due to the pupil's attempt to _think_ and at the same time _hear_ what the teacher says.
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=Murché's Science Readers.= Vol. I. 25 cents. Vol. II. 25 cents. Vol. III. 40 cents. Vol. IV. 40 cents _net_. Vol. V. 50 cents _net_. Vol. VI. 50 cents _net_.
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=Wilson's Nature Study in Elementary Schools.= First Nature Reader 35 cents Second Nature Reader 35 cents Teacher's Manual 90 cents
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PUBLISHED BY
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, New York
* * * * *
VOL. 1 20c. a Copy No. 4 AUGUST, 1899 $1 a Year
=Bird-Lore=
Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN
The Macmillan Company
ENGLEWOOD, N. J.
NEW YORK LONDON
_R. Weber_
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN
=Bird-Lore=
August, 1899
CONTENTS
Frontispiece--Nesting Site of Cliff or Eave Swallows _H. W. Menke_ Photographing Shy Wild Birds and Beasts at Home. Illustrated. _R. Kearton, F.Z.S._ 107 Two Nova Scotia Photographs. Illustrated. _C. Will Beebe_ 113 In the Spartina with the Swallows. Illustrated. _O. Widmann_ 115 Watching the Bittern 'Pump'. _Bradford Torrey_ 123
FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS Hints to Young Bird Students. { _Witmer Stone, J. A. Allen,_ { _Robert Ridgway, C. Hart Merriam,_ { _William Brewster, and others_ 125 Fall Migration at Portland, Conn. _John H. Sage_ 128
FOR YOUNG OBSERVERS Mr. Flicker Writes a Letter. Verse. Illus. by Ernest W. Smith. _Garrett Newkirk_ 129 Zip and Phoebe. Illustrated. _Florence A. Van Sant_ 130
NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY 132 Birds through a Telescope, _Frank M. Chapman_; The Cardinal in Maine, _Ella Gilbert Ives_; A Useful Bird.
BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS 133 Kearton's 'Wild Life at Home'; Mrs. Grant's Economic Value of Birds; Nash's Birds of Ontario; Howe's 'On the Birds' Highway'; Palmer's 'Danger of Introducing Noxious Animals and Birds'; Judd's 'Birds as Weed Destroyers'; Beal's 'Economic Relation of Birds'; Book News.
EDITORIAL 135
AUDUBON DEPARTMENT 136 Editorial; American Society of Bird Restorers; Massachusetts Society; Connecticut Society; Tennessee Society.
×*× _Bird-Lore is published at Englewood, New Jersey, on the first of the month, where all notices of change of address, manuscripts intended for publication, books, etc., for review, and exchanges should be sent._
PUBLISHERS' ANNOUNCEMENT
The most important paper in Bird-Lore for October will be an illustrated article on the American Ornithologists' Union, by its first president, J. A. Allen, which will be of especial interest to all bird students.
=Bird-Lore=
A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE
DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS
Official Organ of the Audubon Societies
======================================= Vol. 1 August, 1899 No. 4 =======================================
Photographing Shy Wild Birds and Beasts at Home
BY R. KEARTON, F. Z. S.
Author of "Wild Life at Home: How to Study and Photograph It;" "With Nature and a Camera," etc.
My brother and I were both delighted to see the first number of Bird-Lore, and take the opportunity of congratulating our naturalist and photographic chums across the Atlantic upon having such a practical and highly interesting magazine to help them in their enchanting pursuits. Such a publication would have been a veritable godsend to us when we started our natural history photography.
As we have had a good deal of experience in circumventing the cunning and timidity of the majority of wild creatures living in the British Isles, and the same characteristics in this respect are common to wild animals all the world over, I propose to tell by what means we have secured some of our rarest pictures.
First of all, I ought to explain that we never use anything but a strongly built, half-plate stand camera, fitted with a Dallmeyer stigmatic lens, and an adjustable miniature on the top, which is used as a sort of view-finder when making studies of flying birds and mammals in motion. When fixed in position, and its focus has been set exactly like its working companion beneath it, both are racked out in the same ratio by the screw dominating the larger apparatus which, when charged with a dark slide and stopped down according to the requirements of light and speed of exposure, needs no further attention. When the combination is in use, the photographer focuses with his right hand, and, holding the air ball or reservoir of his pneumatic tube in his left, squeezes it quickly and firmly directly he has achieved a sufficiently clear and strong definition of his object upon the ground glass of the miniature camera. This enables the operator to focus up to the last instant, and to select the best attitude of his "sitter."
We have a silent time-shutter built in behind the lens, and for very rapid work, such as flying bird studies, use a Thornton & Pickard focal plane shutter working up to the thousandth part of a second.
Good apparatus, that will work under almost any conditions with precision and certainty, must be possessed for the achievement of successful natural history work. We use the quickest plates made in the old country for the greater part of our work, although, of course, for still objects full of color, we cannot beat Ilford chromatic plates.
We soon discovered that it was absolutely impossible to figure many timid birds at close quarters without some natural contrivance in which the camera and its operator could be effectually hidden. For the study of wood birds at home, we built an artificial tree trunk of sufficient internal capacity to contain either of two broad-shouldered Yorkshiremen. This is how we made it. Purchasing three pieces of stout bamboo, each 7 feet in length, I split them down the center and lashed each piece to three children's bowling hoops, the topmost and center ones being 24 inches in diameter, and the bottom one 27, so as to represent the base of a tree and give the legs of our camera a greater stride. We then covered the whole with galvanized wire and a coat of green American cloth, which my wife painted to resemble the bark of a tree. After this we stuck bits of lichen and moss on to it, and then passed a number of bits of strong grey thread from the inside to the out. With these we tied on several pieces of ivy stripped from adjoining tree trunks, so as to make our contrivance look as natural as possible. How far we succeeded in deceiving the feathered folks of Britain may be judged, when I state that one day a Chaffinch alighted on the broken top of our artificial forest monster and began to rattle off its song just over the unseen photographer's head.
We should much like to hear of this device being tried by someone on American wood birds. Whoever makes and gets laced up inside an artificial tree trunk will discover that a peculiarly dizzying sensation attends the first attempt or two to stand for any length of time so encased.
For some birds we fix up a mock camera near their nests or feeding haunts a few days before we attempt to make a picture. This can be easily done with a small wooden box and tin canister with its lid or bottom blackened to represent a lens.