BIRD DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3494, 2 November 1926, Page 12

BIRD DAY

e VALUE OF NATURE STUDY AID TO THE PRIMARY PRODUCER. The study of birds and their habits and foods, in a branch of Nature study which is being given particular attention in Victoria, Australia, and throughout the State schools this month a special bird-day programme being observed Nature study as a subject of school work has steadily grown in importance in recent years, and the Victorian State schools are turning out yearly large numbers of children! whose ability to closely observe, to' experiment ,and draw correct conclusions has been so well deveolpod that ■such of them as may engage in the chief primary industry will bo in a position to grapple intelligently with the many diseases and insect posts Incidental to the lot of the man on the land. The Education Department of Victoria, recognising the immense economic value of birds to the primary producers, instituted bird day in .1909. as a special summation of each year's work by the pupils. Already, writes Mr .1. A. Jennings, in the “Education Gazette and Teachers’ Aid,” (Melbourne), this admirable movement has achieved much. It has created a bird conscience in the children. The I write r recalls the days of his own boyhood, when birds were regarded as things to develop small hois’ skill in stone-throwing or to provide thorn with beautiful collections of eggs.

And now, what a contrast I Mo wnsj accounted great who could invite his mates to his house; and at Ids magic call, bring wild birds to partake ol his hospitality—to perm upon his arm and cat from his palm. I lie gospel of lord day. however,"' he i says, "docs not reach all hoys. Dur-j iug school vacations, the deadly pea rifle is at work, and the birds, in many cases trained to confidence by the local boys, fall easy victims to Ms destructiveness. These boys arc not

young savages. They are fine fellows, but they know not what they do. Further, the gospel of bird day doen not reach all our womenfolk, so, through ignorance .they become the accomplices of fiendish oluineJiuntors.”