Evening star., 1902-01-24
FOR PROTECTION OF BIRDS
ACTIVITY Or AUDUBON SOCIETY AND
OTHER ORG
To Restore the wealth of Beauty a.S
Song ts Park and
Garden.
Written for The E,euIm Star

| The past year has been one OF unexam-
Piled activity I'm the bird protective move
! ment. Not only has the number OF those
| interested in the preservation OF the birds
greatly increased. Il is said. but much has
| been done to secure the enactment and en-
| forcement OF satisfactory laws
| The unorganized efforts OF former days
to save the birds from their destroyers
| usually took shape In the passage OF laws
protecting specifically a few well-known
| species and leaving the rest to fate or at
tempting to include them by some general
| term. such as ''insectivorous. song" or
harmless birds. The most comprehensive
OF these terms usually left a large number
OF species outside the protective pale. Real
izing the necessity for more sweeping
measures. the committee on bird protection
Of the American Ornithologists Union sew
eral years ago published ard proposed for
adoption by the various state legis atures a
new form of law. I'm which all Wild birds
were to be protected with the exception Of
a few objectionable species. such as the
English sparrow. some OF the hawks and
other kinds locally obnoxious.
BY thus naming those whose numbers
might properly be reduced and protecting
all the rest. instead OF naming those
deemed worthy OF protection and leaving
all others unprotected the proposed law
was designed to remove all chance that de-
sirable birds. perhaps in urgent need OF the
benefit of the law, should be omitted
through carelessness. error or lack OF in
formation on the part OF the trainers OF
laws. or; as sometimes happened. through
legal quibbles over local names
I'm Force tn Nine states.
This law 1t has been the aim Of the Audu-
bon societies and other organizations in
terested in the bird protective movement
| to successfully urge upon state legislatures
And so active has been the campaign that
during the last twelve months nine states
Oncluding the District OF Columbia) ac-
cepted and passed laws framed in this
model. Sixteen states now have the "A.
.. I. law las IL is generally called, or It's
equivalent. on their statute books. II Is In
force in the whole of New England and
In New York. New Jersey Delaware the
District OF Columbia. Florida. Arkansas.
Indiana, Illinois. Wisconsin and Wyoming
And two Canadian provinces, Ontario and
Manitoba. have laws fashioned after the
same plan. That of Arkansas is worthy
OF special mention. for its passage was due
to the unaided efforts of one woman.
1t is one thing to have a law In exist
ence and another to have It effective
Hence the activity Of the bird champions
has not ceased with the mere passage of a
working law but has been exerted II In
declared, with undminlshed vigor in caus-
ing the arrest and prosecution of offenders.
The law prohibits sale and possession of
the protected species as well their KILL
Ing. and a jealous warfare has been waged
against dealers in millinery goods that have
set the law at defiance. This line of at.
tack was chosen as the one most likely to
stop the Illegal traffic In the bodies and
plumage OF protected birds, and so reach
what is by far the most important field of
destruction These purveyors OF fashion.
1t is claimed, have obliterated the vast
heronres of the south to satisfy the de-
mand for aigrettes; have In a few years al
most swept the tern, or sea swallow from
the Atlantic coast, where 1t was so album
dant, ana have sent out their armed ennis
saries by hundreds to wage an exterminat-
Ing war upon grebes and gulls.
Those Who Sell and Buy
In fairness, it is urged. harsh judgment
should not be passed upon either those who
Sell or those who buy these attractive orna-
ments for feminine headgear The ira
ditions OF the past and the spirit of the
present must be held to account to an i'm
portant extent for the reckless and extrava-
giant slaughter. Aestheticism, which Is SO
largely instrumental in preserving these
animated bits of feathered life, is also
largely responsible for their conversion TO
beauty In another phase. 1t is only when
full realization of the seIfishness and short
sightedness OF this latter enjoyment Is
realized: when 1t is recognized that such
enjoyment involves a deprivation to others
and Is rapidly consuming the stock from
which 1t is derived neither of which faults
Is Incident to enjoyment Of the living birds:
when these facts are made clear to the
understanding of the fair votary of fashion
whose hat Is ornamented with the plumes
of dead birds, and of him or her who sup-
plies such pumes. neither can be held to
be no longer innocent.
And in this field Of education. rather than
In the exercise Of the police power lies the
truest work of the Audubon societies They
are primarily designed to diffuse knowledge
and arouse or promote interest where ig-
norance and Indifference or apathy may be
found.
In pursuance of this phase of its chosen
work. the Audubon Society Of the District
dcaN rad rN xoIta L.,
terest in the study of birds as a pleasurable
occupation. Periodical meetings for mem-
bers and for the public are held. at which
popular addresses on the subject of birds
and their habits are delivered accompanied
by Informal discussions on the part OF all
present; excursions into fields and woods
are made, In which the public is invited to
join. each In charge of some one qualified
to tell the names and explain the character
| istics Of the birds met with; leaflets are pre-
pared and distributed showing the necessity
for prompt preservatiye measures; and in
various other ways the public ear is sought
and the public conscience appealed to-
Work I'm the schools.
Much work has been done In the schools,
| and many Of the teachers are enthusiastic
members of the society. able and willing to
communicate their own interest to the pu-
pills in their charge. Probably never be-
fore have the school children been SO well
informed concerning the beauty and yalus
of birds
The result of activity along these various
lines cannot fan to produce a perceptible
influence on the numbers OF the birds
Protected from the ravages OF many of
their most formidable foes. aided and en-
couraged by an overwhelming circle OF
friends and acquaintances. they must in
crease. And It is well within the bounds Of
legitimate hope that they may once moro
fill our parks and gardens with a wealth of
beauty and music that has long been alb
sent. HENRY OIDYs
MUTINOUs CANADIAN TROOPS.