The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-31
AN APPEAL TO BIRD-LoVERS.
The Audubon Society of New York
Sends Out the Following Appeal
70 Bird Lovers

This country is on the verge of losing
forever one of the main features of its
seacoast charms-the sea-birds them
selves In fact, the Terms. the most ex-
quisite of the Gull family, and which
formerly thronged our whole coast, have
been so nearly wiped out by agents of
the milliners that this years onslaught,
already fully organized, will CLEAN al
most the last pair from the few small
breeding colonies which remain. wherever
these are unprotected. And the larger
Gulls. which are not only very beautiful,
but absolutely essential as harbOr scav-
engers, are also being decimated for the
same purpose.
All these species, with their exquisite
beauty, their wild voices and their most
romantic lives, peopling a realm which.
without them. would be oppressive in it's
dreary grandeur, will reach their breed
ing places in few weeks, and the Terms,
especially, are liable to be slaughtered
the moment they get there: therefore the
promptest action is necessary. if we are
tn save even the few pairs of the latter
which could restock our devastated coast
when the evil eye OF fashion shall have
turned to other victims
SANITARY SERVICE or SEA-BIRDS.
Simple economic considerations make it
a matter of course that the Gulls must
be saved. An immense horde of them,
which naturalists think number any
where from hundred thousand to a
million, gorge twice a day In New York
Bay upon garbage. AS the hour of the
dump" approaches. their multitudes fill
the whole air to an immense height, over
an area Of several miles, then gradually
settle on the sea in vast white sheets.
The whistle of the police boat, the signal
to dump" seems to watt them stimuli
taneously into the air, to gather, like
dense snow clouds, over the floating
masses Just emptied from the many
scows.
Imagine from what an amount OF pu-
trid matter these birds. as big as hens,
save the adjacent beaches, not to speak
oi their perpetual cleaning In the actual
harbors And this is specimen Of
what occurs at every port
And shall this incalculable sanitary
benefit. and all this beauty. terminate
forever. and for no worthy purpose?
If money enough can be raised. the
committee Of the American Ornitholo-
gIsts union will guard every breeding
place where there Is law to back Them
as Mr.. Mackay and Mr. butcher have
done at Vineyard Sound Islands and
Great Gull Island.
The utmost caution will be used In
choosing wardens, and the committee
will he glad to receive names Of men es-
Iecially suited for the post. Light
house keepers and Life-Saving Station
captains will be employed wherever feas-
ible.
A very encouraging sum is already in
the hands of the committee
The places to be protected are certain
islands on the coast of Maine. Long
Island, New Jersey. Maryland and per-
haps Virginia and Florida.
In Maine alone there is need of all the
money We can possibly get, since there
single wardens are afraid to face the
rough plumers and some more elaborate
| organization is the only hope.
MONEY NEEDED.
The American Ornithologists union
therefore appeals to every bird-lover for
money to be used In hiring wardens to
protect the birds while nesting. Contri-
buttons should be sent to Mr.. William
butcher. treasurer of the union, mt 525
Manhattan avenue, New York city, who
will furnish all desired information.