The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-29
WOOD DUCKS ARE
 NOW DYING OUT Experts Declare That Good Old Bird is Near
 Extinct.
AN AUDUBON CAMPAIGN
Society Workers Determin- ed to Push Law to
 Shield Survivors.

New York, June 26.-only heroic measures can to-day save the wood duck-one of the most beautiful and useful of American birds-from com plete extinction in this country with in a few years. This is the consensus of opinion of 200 of the leading orni- biologists and sportsmen in every sec ton of the United States, from whom reports have been received at head quarters of the National Association of Audubon Societies in this city to- day. On the basis of the alarming re- turns from these experts, William Dutcher, president of the association, announced to-day that vigorous campaign would be instituted in every State legislature of the land for a prohibition of the killing, sale or pos session of this dying race of birds for the next ten years.
 The march of civilization is held somewhat responsible by the authori- ties for this startling decline of the wood duck, which their fathers shot by the wagon load and which to-day are often sent to be identified as rare specimens. Spring shooting, pot hunting and general reckless destruc- tion of the unusually tame and hand some fowl Is, however, assigned as the main cause of their decrease, which has in many States amounted to from 50 per. cent. to 90 per cent. in the last ten years. While the increase and spread of population and cultivation have done away with many of the woods and ponds in which these bril- liantly colored birds roasted and plunged, it is believed that, if their indescriminate potting can be stopped by law, there is a good chance of still preserving them. Beyopd their marked beauty and gentleness, the ornithologists declare, these birds are an aid to the farmer by reason of their linsectivorous qualities and have abso- llutely no harmful habits.
 From Pennsylvania one ornitholo- gist reported to-day that he had not seen living specimen of wood duck since 1901. Another in South Carolina declared that there were not five to- day where there were fifty ten years ago. Only one had been seen in Wy omirlg by another authority in the last seven years. In Ohio, New Jersey West Virginia, Kansas, Michigan, Mis-. souri, Texas, California and the New England States decreases of over fifty per cent. were reported. In Minnesota alone, a marked check in the decline oi these ducks was reported owing to re, cent legislation against spring shoot. ing and it's rigid enforcement.
 New Hampshire and Massachusett, have already taken the lead in thi. new movement, which the Audubon Iworkers are furthering, by establish, ing a close season of five years on al
 wood duck within their boundaries Unless this term Is heightened and lik, actions adopted by every other Statc land province in North America, it wa.
 declared by the associatlon's officer
 to-day, the next generation will set Ithese rarely beautiful birds, not sport ing on the inland waters but onl, stuffed and dusty on museum shelves
 "The emergency Is almost as press ing as that in the case of the Ameri
 can bison," said MT. Butcher at Audu
 bon headquarters, 141 Broadway to
 day; i've cannot afford to lose ou
 wood duck, which formerly were a
 familiar as many much less beautiful land useful birds are to American na
 ture lovers to-day. We are in thi flight against the extinction of thes
 birds to stay and we believe the peo lple of this country will soon realiz
 that 1t will be worth to them all tha it is going to cost us. I feel sure tha
 every sportsman and nature-lover i
 behind us and that each will exert hi
 utmost influence in this work for tn
 common good"