Kathy Allen, age 13, of Elkmont, Alabama, for her question:

Why don't students stop collecting bird eggs?

Countless children ask what they can do to help save our threatened ecology. Kathy's thoughtful letter proves that a genuine ecologist knows some place to begin. If we all shared her concern for the bird world, one problem would be solved    and in ecology every problem is linked to all the others. Rocks don't mind being collected. But every fragile bird egg on desplay means the sacrifice of a baby bird, plus all his or her descendants.

A decade or so ago, the poetic scientist, Rachel Carson, wrote "Silent Spring". She envisioned a future springtime when no song birds returned and people realized the shocking tragedy too late. Multitudes had been poisoned by plants and insects contaminated with man made chemicals, multitudes had been drivem from their feeding and nesting grounds. Many experts pooh poohed this gloomy outlook and the author did not live to see them change their minds. She would have rejoiced to know that we now foresee the tragic possibility and plan to forestall it.

The time has come to change the childish old notion that the world of nature is a toy to do with as we choose. Life on this luxurious planet is worthwhile because we share it with teeming plants and animals. Nature runs the system and nature is willing to let us help to improve it    so let's learn to work with nature.

For example, it's too bad that farmers failed to let the birds solve some of their weed and insect problems. Most of our birds enjoy a mixed diet, but each species has his favorite groceries. Bluebirds and warblers devour weevils, those pesky bugs that ruin half a billion dollars worth of crops every year. Mocking birds and catbirds, larks and thrashers gobble up greedy grasshoppers. Swallows and martins catch pesky flying insects on the wing. Thrushes and dozens of others relish caterpillar meat and owls keep down the ratty rodent population.

Finches, song sparrows and dozens of others dine mainly on weed seeds. And let's not forget nature's garbage collectors    the buzzards, gulls and other carrion eaters. More than 60 bird species are ready and eager to help us, just by doing what comes naturally. However, most of them enjoy dessert courses and this has created a misunderstanding.

Orchard growers claim that the birds steal their fruit. Experimental ecologists plant bush cherries, bayberries, elderberries and other wild fruit near their trees. They report that the local birds much prefer these rather sour, bite sized berries. Apparently they sample our soft, bland fruit only when we remove their favorite desserts from the scenery. Someday we may give up using risky chemicals and let this or that bird species help to solve our various weed and insect problems. As to the sassy bluejays and those rascals the crows, let's try to live with them.

Sooner or later a sensible nature student sees the interlocking systems of ecology in action. Then stealing a bird's egg becomes a ridiculous notion.. Instead, he or she is out there observing the wondrous ways of the bird world. We soon learn that this must be done quietly and politely because birds have learned to distrust us. Though Andy claims that they are more than willing to be friendly when we encourage them by providing winter rations, shelters and nest building materials.