New-York tribune., 1907-09-20
TO PROTECT SEABIRDS.
Funds Needed to Aid IN Work of
Audubon Societies.

William butcher. president OF the National AS
sociation of Audubon Societies. yesterday an
nounced the acquisition of reservations for the
protection of native birds, and appealed to the
public for financial aid TO enable the association
TO continue its work.
An expedition was sent last spring from the
mouth of the Mississippi River to the Texas line
TO find out If there any large colonies of
birds breeding the marshes and shell islands off
the coast The expedition sent in a small
schooner, headed by Henry H. Kopman. VINO is con-
sderel one of the best oTnthologists in the South
He is employed by the association a lecturer
and organizer in the Gulf States attending the
schools talking to the grangers, and in general,
taking up the subject Of the economic value of
birds and the necessity for their protection.
Kopraan and his crew of two were gone about
six weeks. He made a report TO ;he association
giving a census of the birds. AS sooh he re-
turned and the big colonies of birds had been
found the association sent to the Department Of
the Interior to ascertain whether certain Of these
Islands and keys not still the property OF
the federal government.
I'VE found" said Mr. butcher, that several of
them were the property of the federal government
and applied the Department of the Interior to
have them set aside public reservations. Papers
were drawn up and submitted to President Roose-
welt, and he approved them. On August he made
what is known as the Tern Island Reservation
for the protection OF native birds at the mouth of
the Mississippi. embracing all the small islets and
mud Jumps in the territory covered by the delta
of the Mississippi River
President Roosevelt made another reservation
on August 7. known the Shell Keys Reservation.
situated about two hundred miles west or the
mouth of the Mississippi The President sets these
aside in charge Of the Department OF Agriculture
with the general understanding that the National
Association of Audubon Societies shall nominate a
warden who shall be appointed federal officer.
and whose salary shall be paid by the association
We have had made into reservations all the prop
ertv Of the federal government on the Louisiana
coast that is occupied breeding Islands or
marshes We still find there are a number or
islands that contain large colonies of birds that
need protection. but they are either the property
Of the State of Louisiana Of individuals, and we
have either got TO buy them or lease them we
have lust bought island Of thirty acres for
the small sum Of s74- 1t lies of the coast; during
hurricanes II is run with tidal waves, and Is
worthless except as a breeding home for birds-
Our funds are now exhausted, and 1t is up to
the nature loving public. by membership IN the
association or by direct contributions, to buy or
lease more Of these islands. We have examined the
coast from Maine to the Texas une-a thorough
survey of the whole Atlantic coast. We can make
surveys only in a limited part of the year When
the birds come together in the breeding season we
can get their relative number-that is from six 70
eight weeks in Nav and June BY July they are
through breeding in Southern waters. We want To
examine the Texas coast and then take up the Pa
cifc coast and in many places IN the interior or
on the big lakes we think find the same
thing. The coast islands can be bought at from
s. to 8 an acre. For 800 a man could buy big
island TO be aside IN perpetuity. This IS the
only way In which the sea birds be preserved
We would Ike 70 have as soon possible $1,000 at
least 70 buy this character OF ground Subscrip-
tlons may be sent 10 the Office OF the National AS
sociation Of Audubon Societies, No IL Broadway