Catbird

President Roosevelt writes to naturalist Edward Howe Forbush that he has just read Forbush’s report from last year on the destruction of birds in New England. Roosevelt asks if Forbush has noticed a change in numbers this spring or summer. Roosevelt has not noticed a difference, with many types of birds “as plentiful as ever,” noting he has been observing birds in Oyster Bay for 31 years. Only quail and woodcock numbers seem diminished.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-21

Paul Russell Cutright examines the thirteen natural history notebooks that Theodore Roosevelt kept during his childhood and young adult years. He notes the dates, the subjects, and the locations of the observations kept in each notebook. Cutright focuses on Roosevelt’s love of birding and most of the notebook excerpts deal with this subject. He highlights Roosevelt’s skill at identifying birds by their calls and songs, notes his considerable observation skills, and credits various naturalists and friends who influenced Roosevelt.

Two photographs of Roosevelt as a child and young man and a full-page picture of a mounted snowy owl that Roosevelt prepared accompany the article.

A listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association along with the members of the executive, finance, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees is on page two of the article.