The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-14
EASTERN SHORE SEA BIRDS.
+. c. KirI<vOod's ObservanceS on
the Northumberland Coast

+. c. KirLvOod's ObservanceS on
the VirEiniR-NaryIand Coast
BALTIMORE. Aug. H-Frank G.. Kirk
wood. Secretary Of the Maryland Game
and Fish Association. has just returned
from tour Of inspection of the breeding
! places of the sea birds along the coast Of
the Eastern Shore Of Maryland and Viz
ginia-
Mr.. KirkwoOd made the tour under the
auspices Of the America. OruithOlOgical
! Union, which has taken up the protection
! Of the breeding sites, and stationed nine
wardens along the coast for that purpose
He used an open bateau and cruised about
80 miles in eight days among the coast
islands. William n. Fisher. locally we'll
known naturalist, accompanied him and
| secured a series Of fine pictures Of Wild
fowls and their summer homes
Mr.. Kirkwood said Of his observations
There are more birds along the coast
this season probably by 50 per cent than
| there were last year when / visited the
coast. IL is extremely difficult, however,
7 TO even approximate the numbers When
| you stand and look at evrr-mOvluS
/ mass of birds flying close 10 you and one
another the eye gets confused by the IN
CesSant movement and the ear is tulled
| Toy the babel Of sounds. While the result
1 OF this inspection has been very sttistaC-
/ tory and has proved that good results can
| be accomplished ia so short a time still
| an observer who has visited the scene no
longer than eight OF ten years ago can
not avoid a feeling OF sadness at the fact
I that there is now not more than one bird
I 70 thous4 uds then. Bot there are enough
/ 20 reproduce the stock, and the promise is
/ that in a few years the Dirds may reach
| the old-tme numbers II the present good
| policy Is continued
The money Cor the work OF preserva-
ton Is supplied Dy the Thayer fund When
I the al rirfrflUE these DITlE
brought up By some Of the members OF
the American OruithO.ogical L Mon
doubt was expressed rs 20 whether suf-
hcteut amount could be secured 10 make
protection possible. Nh Ihayer took the
matter Up, and ia short whole succeed
ed III raising an amount which. under the
judiCiOus care Of Mr. William butcher. OF
New York, treasurer Of the American Or
nithOlOEiCal Union. has been sufficient 20
accomplish the desired result The con
nscduOu last winter OF L.On terms uuleI
the Lacy act was the first result. IN the
way OF actual prosecution after the birds
[ had been shipped from the breeding
grounds. Since that time there have been
several prosecutions IN different sections
Of the country. and the market being cut
of the incentive 20 shoot the birds upon
the breeding grounds has been destroyed
w hen 1 speak of shooting the birds on
the breeding grounds alone ] speak with
thorough knowledge Of the impOSSiDiiity
OF shooting them at any other time Of the
year II one OF more persons were 10 10
cate themselves IN the centre Of a breed
ing colony where the nests-sinply CON
structed Of a hollow ScoOped out IN the
saGd-are SO close together that one has
10 watch his feet 10 Keep from walking
upon them. II would only be a matter OF
how many shells were in the party as 10
how much shooting would be done and AT
close range, in which the birds come
sometimes almost in ones face and in
compact bodies Of several hundreds OF
thousands II is readily seen how terrific
the slaughter would be And the birds
killed would not be the worst feature Of
the slaughter. but Tia three or four eggs
OF the dead bird would be LETT 70 TOT upon
f! the sand or the nest OF young left 20 die
Of starvation
AS soon as the Young are able 10 &C
| company their parents the birds scatter
All over the coast ana ocean, and but few
are TO be found in any one locality. Even
when at roost on sand bar they ar
wary and difficult 10 approach. Tor even
II the majority are asleep there are
enough SentIneis duty TO sound the
alarm before the gunner can get within
four or five guushots 81 them TO see
Just how close one could get to them /
tried various means, walking, riding IN
/ beach cart, and stalking them behind
bushes. but never succeeded in getting
anywhere near them. II is true that
sometimes a bid will come near enough
20 a boat To be shot and that when they
are killed and fall INTO the water others
VIII come 70 see what IS the matter, but
II the shooting had been confined 10 these
methods Il would never have made any
impression upon the numbers along our
i SeaCCast- Almost every citizen of BaIti-
more Is aware that In the harbor gulls
come fcarlessly 10 within "A few feet OF
| boat, but assume their natural wariness
as soon as IntE Bft below Fort McHeury-
But 10 rCtUrZ 10 the trip itself With
Mr. Fisher / started On the Old Bay Line
steamer At Ola Point we took the ferry
/ 20 Cape Charles city, and from there
drove 10 CObb's Landing. where We were
met Dy the 2t-foot bateau. which We had
already engaged Then the cruise began.
I The nTSt night out We put IntO Smiths
Island, and were entertained very hOspi-
tably by Captain Hitchins. Of the Iife-sav-
ing station An old deserted lighthouse
was near by. and upon the ratings sur
rounding the top Of this. at an elevation
! OF $50 feet. blankets We're prepared for rs
There was a Ine breeze. and IL was cool
enough TO make the blankets very com
/ Portable al the -op. while al the base OF
/ the tower the heat was unbearabIe and
ne mosquitoes were 50 numerous that the
| dense clouds OF them could be cut with a
hilIe- IN Inc cary part or the night We
descended for surf bath. but were driy--
| on back 70 our porch by the swarrns OF
raNtuOuS mosquitoes
Many islands were visited. and a thor
"ush survey OF the main breeding sites
/ was accomplished The territory covered
$ with but very few exec tiOns devoid Of
any human hablt4JOn except those Of the
lift-sayluE crews and the Mghth1JiSe keen
els 4 DEE most prominent landmarks uu8u
the utlie Islands are the oyster houses
/ uol tht oyster packing houses which are
idLAlildr 10 the " tstern Shore Maryland
/ r, but little ShautleS built high uB on
poles Ike the hUts of the samoan Island
| rrs- Ia these live the men who guard the
extensive oyster beds
| one Of the saLdest sights Of the triD
was the remnants OF Cobb s Island. for
merry one Of the most favored breeding
/ sites of the sea birds along our coast
| which was several years ago almost com
| plstely washed away In this instance the
| Clements Joined forces with the human
| sea bird SiayerS in driving the birds from
| their natural hauuts
| strange to say. the beach birds were not
/ IN their usual evidence at any time curing
| he trip ! do not understand the cause
CURRENT HUMoR