Cyril Adelbert Stebbins

“ The problem of arousing interest in bird life with the subsequent change of a biased view is a large one, but can be solved if the school children will help.
There are too many courses of study in the general school system that seize the child on his first day at school, place him in a schoolroom high chair, and feed him ever after on books. All roads lead to the high chair. The schools should not wean the child from all large, active things, but rather should center or focus such upon the child continuously. ”

“ Learn to see correctly and to interpret wisely. Many see the apple pecked and the wheat kernel disappear, but do not see the quick efforts of the same birds which mean the death of a codling moth larva (the small "worm" found in apples) or a grasshopper. Cultivate sharp eyes for the good work done as well as for the evil and you will have a good basis for economic judgment.
Life History of the Codling Moth.
From drawings made by pupils.
Some Bird Laws
Federal laws: "The importation of the English sparrow and other injurious birds—is prohibited." ”

“ Build bird houses, report any violations of the bird laws, watch the cats, punish the blue jays and other harmful birds as the law punishes human beings that take life, never put out poison, arrange drinking and bathing places, girls should never wear birds in their hats, never aid in long imprisonment of wild birds. ”

“ Bird authorities of Massachusetts estimate one day's work by the birds in that state to be the destruction of 21,000 bushels of insects. In Nebraska 170 carloads of insects are destroyed each day. While thousands of insects are destroyed through other natural agencies, just think for a moment of the number of insects all the birds in the whole United States might destroy in one day and in one year. ”

“ First learn this quotation: "A bird in the heart is worth more than a hundred in a notebook." Second: Learn repose. Third: Learn to listen. Fourth: Learn to see.
To study birds most successfully proceed to a spot frequented by birds with your notebook and if possible a good binocular field glass (eight to ten diameters) . Sit quietly and patiently and you will be rewarded by some shy but curious friend. Raise your glasses slowly and take a detailed description, following the notebook outline given in the supplement (a sample of the supplement is shown in appendix) . ”

“ Authorities have observed one pair of grosbeaks feed their young in one day of eleven hours, 800 larvae of insects. Three thousand ants have been found in the stomach of a "flicker" at one time. Five hundred mosquitoes were counted in the stomach of a nighthawk. A pair of nesting wrens took more than 600 insects from a garden in one day. Swallows eat more than 1,000 flies a day. ”

“ Meadow Lark, Robin and other Wild Birds.—Unlawful at any time to take or kill.
Birds not protected.—Which can be killed at any time. English Sparrow, Sharp Shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Duck Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Blue Jay, California Linnet and all fish-eating birds except Sea Gulls and the blue and white Crane or Heron.
License to Hunt.—On and after July 1st, 1907, every person must have a license who hunts, pursues, or kills any of the wild birds and animals protected by law.
License must be carried at all times when hunting, and exhibited to officers. ”

“ California Woodpecker—About the size of the robin; crown red; sides of head and upper parts black; rump and wing patches white; breast with black band; at rest the bird presents a mass of black with a red cap, in flight one sees bars of black and white. ”

“ Similar to California creeper, but colors are darker.
Louisiana Tanager—Smaller than robin; head, nape and throat reddish; wings black with yellowish bar; tail black; rest of body yellow. These birds are numerous during the fruit season.
Northwestern Red-wing—Size of robin; shoulders tipped with scarlet and white; the rest of the body is black.
Bicolored Blackbird—Similar to Northwestern red-wing, but shoulders are tipped with scarlet, scarlet only, thus giving the bird its name—two-colored bird.
Housefinch or Linnet
House Finch or Linnet—About size of English sparrow ”

“ It has been estimated that the damage caused annually in three states alone by the codling moth amounts to nearly $8,000,000. The moth spoils from 25 to 75 per cent of the apple crop of the United States and Canada each year.
Statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture for 1904 show a tax of $1,195,000,000 imposed upon the people of the United States by insects during that year. ”

“ Upper parts blue-black, forehead chestnut; chin and throat chestnut; abdomen whitish; tail forked. Builds nest under eaves of buildings.
Cliff Swallow—Smaller than barn swallow. Upper parts black; back streaked with white; throat, forehead and rump brownish; abdomen light; tail not forked to any extent. Builds in cliffs.
Tree Swallow—About size of English sparrow. Upper parts metallic blue or green; under parts white; tail slightly forked. Builds nests in holes of trees.
Bank Swallow—Smaller than English sparrow. Under parts white, grayish-brown band across breast; upper parts olive brown. ”

“ Cedar Waxwing—Smaller than robin; similar to above, but abdomen yellowish, not quite so much white on wings.
Water Ouzel or American Dipper—Little larger than sparrow; slate-color with brown head and neck; frequents water, particularly rapids or falls. His song is remarkably sweet and lively, and he never hesitates when singing to dive into the water and swim away at a lively rate.
California Towhee
California Towhee—About the size of a robin ”