The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-21
TOHOLD BIRD HAUNTS
AUDUBON WORKERS PLAN GREAT
 RESERVE.
Upcle5 Sam Te Help Mating Fowl Against MsIestattoA-Unknown Isles Touched h Hecent
 Survey.

New York, July xO-To make or the unknown island region of the Gulf of Mexico one great reserve for the birds of the nation ts the project which, 1t was announced here today, will be im- mediateIy undertaken by the National Association of Audubon Societies. Re- ports of a dangerous and difficult ex- ploration of the remote sea isles off the coast Of Louisiana from the Sabine River to Pass L. Outre have just been received from H. H. Kopman, the celebrated ornithologist who was dis patched by the association several months ago In quest of complete fn- formation on this practically unknown territory of the United States. As a result, it has been decided to add all of this insular tract, If possible, to the re servation of twenty seven simil9r is- lands now maintained by the Audubon workers east of the Mississipprs mouth as undisturbed havens Tor the hosts of birds that wing by. looking for breed ing places.
 Application for the right to retain for this purpose such of these islands as are government property vii be Rads by the Audubon association to the federal authorities in the near future and every effort exerted to secure rights on is- lands held by private interests. In the
 
 east of the Mississippi prompt assis- tance has always been given the Audu- bon workers by the government in the acquisition of island territory, which they have found 1t heavy financial burden to acquire from private holders and maintain. With the island stretch both east and west of the delta of the Mississippi thus acquired. this country will afford its birds the most extensive r,,I t~r tr ha world.
 The kopman explorations, as report ed to William Butcher. president of the association today. will prove valuable addition to geographical as we'll az or nithological records. Many islands not named on the official charts were dis covered and several colonies of birds were found whose existence in these particular regions could previously be only conjectured In all, some 22.700 pelicans. terms. black skimmers, herons and gulls were found in breeding con dition. Although on islands of the present Audubon reserve the birds have become so tame that they pay prac- tieally no attention to man, in a great many of the remote regions just visited they exhibited signs of fear which showed unmistakably that they are ire quently molested even in these inaccess. ible breeding grounds.
 Most mysterious of all the observations made by the Audubon expedition were the "mud-lumps" of the passes of the Mississippi outlet. These weird is lands rise, sink and reappear elsewhere in an unaccountable maner and are used by the timid bird flocks very exten- sively for breeding colonies. They often cover an acre and rise six or eight feet above high tide level in their shifting processes. The action of gas and oil domes and the effects of sedi- mentation are variousiy assigned by scientists as the cause of these phe- nomena.
 The exploration of this region Is almost the final step In a general sur vey of the Atlantic coast line of the en- tire country. which was started down from the upper boundary of Maine some years ago At great expense the National Association of Audubon Socie- ties has now obtained full and complete information on all the haunts anc habits Of the birds who frequent the east coast country. One more survey will be made, as soon as availa ble funds warrant it, down to the lower extreme of the Texas coast. Eventual Iy the Audubon workers intend to con tinue these valuable and productive Ob- servations alor the entire line of the Pacific coast as thoroughly as they have covered the Atlantic seaboard.