Bird lore - Project Puffin

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^otes from JTtelti anti ^tutip
A Correction
Through a typographical error the Tree
Sparrow was included in the Census of
Mrs. Herbert R. Mills of Tampa, Florida,
published in the January-February, 1916,
issue of Bird-Lore. The record should
have read Tree Swallow. Editor.
Hints for Bird Clubs
The greatest problem with most of our
bird clubs seems to be: What can we do to
make our meetings interesting, so that all
the members, especially the younger ones,
will be anxious to come?
In planning for parties, picnics, or other
entertainments of that sort, we usually
expect to have everyone present take a
part in whatever games or sports there
are, and, no matter how often we have
them, there is never any question but that
all who can do so will be there. I believe
that bird-club meetings can be made
equally attractive if we go about them in
the same way, rather than to plan some
sort of entertainment where only a few
are to have a part, as is usually the case.
There is almost no limit to the number of
interesting and instructive things we can
do, and it will be possible for even the
more advanced bird students to learn
something new at nearly every meeting.
Every member should have a notebook
for keeping a record of the birds seen
and identified, with any new or interest-
ing things observed, for comparison with
others at each meeting; and each member
should have a standing in the club according
to the number of birds identified and
the amount of work done for the birds.
This will be an inducement for each member
to do something or learn something
new before the next meeting, and to be
present at all the meetings, to learn what
others have done. It will also be found
helpful in learning about birds and in
remembering what is seen; for, unless we
(I 00)
have some special reason for noting care-
fully all that may be seen on our walks,
even the most interested observers will
miss many things, and will forget much
of what they did see.
When about to start on a walk of about
three miles, one bright pleasant morning
last June, I decided to keep a list of all
the birds seen and heard from the time I
started until I returned. The walk was
finished between twelve and one o'clock,
when most of the birds were quiet and few
were seen; yet I saw 105 birds on the trip,
and had a good idea of the number and
variety of birds one might see at this time
of the year. If I had kept no record of the
number, I could not have told how many I
was likely to see, or which species would
be seen oftenest. All such things will
prove interesting at the meetings, and will
add largely to our knowledge of birds in
the course of a year.
In winter, we should note the feeding
habits of the different birds and the num-
ber and kinds of winter visitors seen; it is
also a good time to make a study of nests,
where they are placed, and the material
used in each.
In summer, there will be something for
every day if we have our eyes open; nest-
ing habits, bird-baths, and occasionally
some rare migrant to tell about. It would
be impossible to give a complete list of the
interesting things to be seen at this time.
Every club should own a few good
reference books, and have them at their
meetings, to settle any questions that may
arise. The 'Color Key to North American
Birds,' by Chapman, will be found useful
for identification, 'Wild Bird Guests,' by
Baynes, for matters pertaining to bird
clubs and bird protection, also 'Useful
Birds and their Protection,' by Forbush.
There are many others that would
prove beneficial, but these three are almost
indispensable, if we would learn the ways
of our wild bird friends and what we can
do to help them.