File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 9 (1911) (19878124794).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Game Commision), no. 9
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv09penn (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

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
or "sparrows" in a general way, just as wading birds are all "snipes" and unknown grebes and ducks "dippers." At the present time we cannot present material which will help the bird student to identify all of our birds, since our chief aim here is to create a correct sense of the value of birds, and to foster a desire to protect them. If we create this desire to protect birds we have practically won our cause, for the protection of birds is certain to lead to a closer study, more careful identification, and eventual understanding of them. Fortunately, because of their humanitarian instincts, most people who do not know our birds very well, or are not aware of their value, have an innate desire to protect them. There are those who seem to have no sense of conservation however, who would kill any wild creature without concern in the effect of such killing. There is also a locally increasing foreign-born element in our popu- lation which has a perverted sense of the value of birds, and which must learn either gracefully or by rigid enforcement of law that our wild-life is a valued possession of the people at large. For use in dealing with these, and such as these, then; for the en- couragement of all organizations which will welcome any recent 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; but these will surely sense our desire to be as just to every living creature as is possible in a consideration of the prob- lems of 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 readilv 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. ^ ) Jr. Our wild birds and mammals during the past century received so little protection that almost before we were conscious of our neglect, certain species were on the verge of extermination. Some of these creatures are gone forever; some have been saved. But when we
Text Appearing After Image:
Photograph by Miss Esther Heacock, Wyncote. Fig. 4. ROBIN FEEDING YOUNG Robins frequently nest in such situations and appreciate boxes put out for them. 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 riin<3 thf» ri«;lr r^i hpintr lirPnH#»H a cpntitnonfolicf- Vtnf if cIiomIH Ka 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

Note About Images