Bird Month

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 2, 24 July 1931, Page 13

Bird Month

FOUND Mr. Eric Lawson very easy to listen to, and his matter quite ex» cellent. Although condemned to city interests, I have always hankered after the country. To be free of commercial trammels and wander in the bush and study Fauna and Flora-attractive youn ladies that they are-what an app that is! So Mr. Lawson found an ime mediately appreciative listener when he talked of our feathered friends. On behalf of the Native Bird Protection Society a short series of talks is being given, to inform wus of that society’s aims and objects. August has been adopted as "Bird Month." Why? Because then is the help of man most urgently needed. It is the most severe and critical of all the months: the weather is the coldest, food is the most scarce, and the nesting season looms ahead. So there is bespoken for the birds a little extra care from humanity: a little extra food, such as luscious beef suet placed-and this is most important -high out of the reach of the felonious feline. Nature always knows best, and inevitably will endeavour to counterag man’s vandalism and destructiveness, de> clared Mr. Lawson. Obviously the cone verse must be true ‘that man will achieve his happiest results by co-oper-ating with Nature. He will raise his crops easier and preserve his farm lands better by maintaining suitable forests, habited with the birds that feed upon insect pests, than by destroying that vegetation in an endeavour to "bring in," as it is termed, land that should not be "brought in," but should most decidedly be left "out" in a state of wildness and beauty.

France learned her lesson by bitter experience. She destroyed bird life ruthlessly, and Nature took her toll by unchecked crawling insects and plant disease; Now France is wiser, and her children are taught the duty they owe to birds and how to protect them. We should learn in time. Fortunately this society has undertaken the task, and is

endeavouring to protect the birds and preserve their beneficial action and reaction upon ourselves. Our birds require forests to live in and the right insects to live on. They require imported pests to be eliminated as well as imported diseases. Research is necessary for the

discovery of harmful facts and tendencies, and to preserve justice "and right determination of policies. These objects are most worthy, and I shall hie myself speedily to become a life member, for I opine that finance is always necessary for such work. And on that point the society is se alive to the need that it is promoting an art union with which te woo the public. No cause is more worthy, and I shall abandon my vows, inspired by past disappointments, and, buy tickets to my capacity for the sake of those feathered songsters that please me so when I have a chance to wander our pretty countryside. Mr. Lawson spoke well, with cultivated voice, and I shall await his further talks with pleasurable . anticipation.