The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-18
FRIENDS OF BIRDS
Audubon Society of State is
Growing Rapidly.
Mr. W. Gilbsrt Pearson Tells Of the Splendid
interest Being Shawn in The
Society,

There is to be local branch of the Au-
dubon Society formed in Raleigh.
Mr.. Gilbert Pearson, the secretary OF
the State Society, was here yesterday con
ferring with local sportsmen and friends
of the birds.
His purpose is to secure members for
the Audubon Society and to arrange for
the organization of a local branch. He
secured twenty eight members for the So
ciety and on Tuesday night meeting Will
be held in the Mayors office to estab
lish a local branch.
Mr.. Pearson is a working enthusiast.
He is a member of the American Society
of Ornithologists and is recognized as a
jealous advocate of the protection of the
song and game birds of North Carolina
and the country.
He has been in many sections of the
State and finds that the purpose of the So
ciety to create sentiment favorable to the
protection of game, song, and other birds
that need protection needs but little
tanning. Il am gratified to find that the
sentiment already exists largely he
said, "and everywhere l find people who
are ready to join the society and aid it.
The society now has in the State about
$50 members and Mr.. Pearson says that
this gives him an annual income of 81, AGO
to spend in the protection of the birds,
as the fee is 50 year. In addition to
this Mr.. Pearson as a member of the
American Society of Ornithologsts re
ceives $500 a year to- use, and this he is
using in North Carolina.
Mr. Pearson states that already local
branches have been formed in Whining
ton, Durham, Greensboro, Winston,
High Point, Lexington, and Asheville, and
that Raleigh will be added to this list
on Tuesday night. I'm Greensboro" said
he 1.-The membership is already ninety
six and in Asheville sixty. l get gentle
men to join as l meet them on the streets,
at the hotels, in street cars, or on the
trains. The sportsmen are always ready
to join and the society grows, being com
posed of the very best citizens of the
State
The work on the coast, he states, is go
ing on we'll Men are employed there at
s45 and $50 a month to look after the
violation of the law and these coast war
ueUS dIc dCIlNt. IHSSS dlC at NOIh III
Dare, Hyde, Carteret, New Hanover, and
Brunswick They work every day, post
notices and are putting the people in pos
session of the law. In a few years the
birds will again be back on the coasts.
One rookery he says, has in it 1900
"skimmers'' as the birds are known. He
reports that he has heard of no killing of
tull bats and the coast game wardens re-
port no killing of birds this summer.
Mr. Pearson is greatly pleased with the
energetic work of the Asheville local
branch. 1t has ordered and had issued cir
culars which offer a reward of $40 for the
information about and evidence to convict
persons who violate the game laws 1t
is an example which he hopes the other
counties of the State will follow.
The fee charged non-residents for shoot
ing in the State is $40 gun, and he finds
that the sportsmen are not against this
and that local sportsmen are willing to pay
IS a year to aid the society, as they see
the advantage of this support.
M Pearson will be in Raleigh on Tues
day night, when the local association is
formed here He has left the calling of
the meeting to DR.. ]. I. Johnson an en-
thusiastic gun club man, and he does not
doubt but that Raleigh, with twenty
eight members already secured will organ.
ize strong and vigorous society.