File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 7 (1911) (20507089851).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 7
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv07penn (find matches)
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: Pennsylvania Game Commission
Subjects: Game protection; Birds
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : Pennsylvania Game commission
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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8 word on conservation of natural resources; for use of schools where developing citizens will benefit by any up-to-date discussion of a subject of vital importance to them;—for such uses as these is this bulletin written with the hope that its sincerity will be understood and appreciated. No attempt has been made to plead the cause of birds more urgently than their good qualities honestly warrant. To some readers it may seem that our defense of bird-life is not strong enough ; 1)ut these will surely sense our desire to be as just to every living thing as is possible in a consideration of the problems or wild life conservation. THE AESTHETIC VALUE OF PENNSYLVANIA BIRD-LIFE Americans are known throughout the world as successful busi- ness-men. Our practical knowledge of values has spread into every field of endeavor, and our wealth is everywhere apparent. Our de- sire for wealth has had bad effect at times, since it has blindly sought immediate gain, forgetful of consequences. Thus have forests been carelessly felled without a thought of using any but the readily salable products, and with no consideration of replant- ing or careful selection of trees. Wholesale destruction of life in many of our streams has come about as a direct result of careless- ness in disposal of waste products from factories, mines, and such industrial plants. Our wild birds and mammals during the past century received so little protection that almost before we were conscious of our neglect.
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Photograph by MIm Bather Heaoock. Wyncote. ROBIN FEEDING VOUNG Robins frequently nest in such situations and appreciate boxes put out for them. certain species were on the verge of extermination. Some of these creatures are gone forever; some have been saved. But when we fully realized that some of our native birds were being wiped out, a crusade of protection was inaugurated which has gained yearly in power and influence. In order to show this practically minded public the mistake it was making the most arresting, powerful argu- ment for conservation was produced, namely, that birds were saving us, throughout the year, actual dollars and cents, by their destruc- tion of insect-life. Such an argument was about the only one to which the people at large would have listened. When the farmers found that their yearly profits depended to a recognizable degree on the feathered tenants of their land, their attitude changed from that of indifferent on-lookers to that of interested guardians. But after a painstaking and fair-minded survey of bird-life, and a sympathetic study of the papers which have been published re- garding their value and conservation, it seems wise to state that the greatest value of birds is their aesthetic value. Anyone bold enough to make this statement in view of our practical instincts, at once runs the risk of being branded a sentimentalist, but it should be understood that there is no false note in such a sentiment as the writer has in mind. Furthermore, far-seeing students of the situa- tion everywhere are likely of the same opinion, and when every citizen comes to realize fully the aesthetic value of our natural resources Pennsylvania will have perceptibly advanced as a civi- lized commonwealth. In the very nature of the case it is impossible to precisely estimate aesthetic values, nor do we need to. We do not seem to demand any estimation of the value in leaves, stems or roots of any harmless and beautiful flower in order to wish its protection, and as a rule we do not need any computation of profits and losses when we seek to prevent the destruction of a graceful water-fall. Our desire for the perpetuation of these* beautiful things is nothing but the result of a tremendous aesthetic .valuation of them. Nothing is more distasteful to the scientist than a half-hearted or ignorant sentimentality such as sometimes exists among amateur students. A careful study of Biology leads the scientist to believe that grief plays very little part in the lives of birds and mammals. The wholesale destruction of life by the elements and other natural causes is wisely balanced by a tremendous over-production which will assure the perpetuation of all species unless there are over- whelming factors, such as human machines of destruction, which intervene. False sentimentality has no place in genuine bird-study. Such wicked, and forgets that the smaller birds cause just as much death.

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