The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-01
MIGRATION OF BIRDS.
Professor Cooke Thinks rhe Question of Food Supply Is But One of
 the Motives,

Brooklyn Eagle
 Washington, Oct 24.-For the past nineteen years Professor W. w. Cooke. ornithologist of the Department of Agriculture. has been study ing the movement of birds in order to ac- quire more information regarding the causes and objects of the annual migrations of the various species in the United States. The req for the yearly Journeyings are still more or less in doubt. but much valuable knowledge has been added to the stock of information previously possessed on this subject.
 Twenty years ago Professor poke published a short bulletin on bird migration in the Ms sssippi Valley. and he win shortly issue book on the same subject covering his obser- vations for the entire country. It will be the most complete and extensive work ever com piled by ornithologist. The material on which 1t Is based was gathered by large corps of observers operating under we'll regulated system. The department has the services of about 275 agents. located in vari- ous parts of the United States, who submit be- tween 10, 900 and 1 s. 900 notes on the move ments of birds every year. Many of them are bird collectors who are interested in spreading general information about the habits of the different species, while others are employees of the Government The services of all. however. are rendered gratuitously. The department prints and distributes every year thousands or blanks which the various observers All in with facts regarding the first appearance of birds In migratory journeys. All the lighthouse keep CTS on the coast from the gulf to the St. Law renee are the lookout for the first arrival of the aerial migrants, and promptly report their appearance to Professor Cooke. Out of the many thousand replies that come in more than one-haIf are rejected because of apparent misstatements errors, but the balance are considered reliable and worthy of basing hnal conclusions upon. The information thus oo- tained is utilized in establishing the open and close seasons for bird shooting in the various States and in the enactment of other laws for the protection of the feathered species.
 In speaking about his work Professor Cooke said today 10 the Eagle correspondent: We study the movements of all classes of migra- tory birds which includes about two-thirds of all the sparrows. all warblers, thrushes ny catchers ducks. plover, snipe and all other rame birds As a result of our observations should say that the stock of birds in the country is decreasing in number; of this there can be no question. IL is particularly true of our game birds. and the principal object Of the work of this division is to save the iew that are left The fact that they are decreas- ing in number is apparent in every report that comes in from all parts of the country. IT the next generation of our sportsmen IS 10 nave any game bird shooting the present generation must adopt prompt measures to limit the reck- less killing that is now going on at certain toadirg grounds Spring shooting must be stopped altogether if we are to have any birds in the future.
 Ornithologists have yet to agree on the mo- tive that prompts birds to fly South in the Fall and return in the Spring and Summer Professor Cooke believes that the question of food supply is a factor, but that the controll- ing impulse that causes birds year after year to find their way thousands of miles back to | the same box or tree is the inborn love Of the nesting ground He thinks that there is no doubt that they are driven South by the ap- proach of Winter and the failure of the food supply Of these two reasons the latter Is by far the more powerful since 1t is well known that single individuals of species which retire far to the South often remain behind and, favored by abundance of food. withstand the moSt severe weather stin 1t is unexplained