Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-09-23
ISLANDS cEDED TO BIRDS
Roosevelt Aids Movement for Per-
Detual Refuge for Wud
Fowl.


prices OF from 81 to 81 an acre perpetual
homes and breeding grounds for the wild
birds Of America are now being secured
by friends of the national bird life. In
addition to the twenty-five Islands in the
Gulf OF Mexico. east of the Mississippi,
which II now maintains as an undisturbed
haven for the native wild fowl the Ma
tional Association OF Audubon Societies
has today completed the purchase of
"Sundown Island" on the Louisiana coast.
The ceding OF this thirty-scre island
tract to the birds as an everlasting
homing spot, It is announced, marks the
beginning of widespread movement
among bird lovers in this country. This.
II is hoped, will result in the eventual
acquisition of all the native haunts in
the island and coastal region of the
Atlantic, Pacific and OF the Gulf, where
at present the breeding iocks are sadly
molested and unprotected.
At the head OF the subscription list
toward securing the hopes OF the ma
tons birds Uncle Sam has already placed
himself with the reservation of the en-
tire "mud-lump" region of the Missis-
sipprs delta and the "Sheil Keys somc-
what further west. oflcial orders from
President Roosevelt calling for the set
ting aside of these breeding tracts have
recently been forwarded to Audubon
headquarters in this city in answer to
an earnest Recommendation of this meas
ure which the association made early, in
the summer. With this cordial endorse
ment and continuation Of the reservation
plan by governmental authority. It now
remains to complete the project of es-
tablishing an adequate bird realm, Uy
private purchase of such islands as are
owned by private persons and yet remain
unguarded from the molestation of human
destroyers.
Cost IL Small Item.
That a few dollars may secure to all
bird posterity full acre OF home and
breeding ground, carefully patroled by
Audubon wardens, is an idea that is APP
pealing TO friends of American wild life
all over the country. In support of the
general movement the Audubon workers
have already begun to receive contribu-
tions to their funds for the purpose Of
retaining these national bird haunts to
their own once more. N
BY the governments reservation Of
Shell Keys a multitude of national wild
fowl have already become assured of the
preservation OF their homes and offspring.
on this reef. which is composed of oyster
bHellS anu eAIenuSH only n ullle anu a.
half in the waters. of the Upper gulf,
some 400 brown pelicans. 500 man-o'-war
birds and almost 1000 royal terms were
recently observed by an Audubon patrol
expedition. More than 200 nests of the
terms were also counted on the little
reef which has now been placed under
careful guard against. marauders.
Birds stiII Need HomeH.
In addition to the Shell Keys and the
equally frequented, ''mud-lump'' reserva-
tions at the Mississippis mouth. which
have today ycnSnc uRdesFthe surveillance
OF the Audubon workers.s pOmez.79e acres
of island region have been purchased or
acquired by the association for. the same
purpose east ofSthe rivers delta Many
more islands. either, privately held, OF uR-
discovered, must be bought or held under
perpetual lease, the ornithologists de-
clare, before the bird life Of this country
will be adequately safeguarded. ,, ,a
"The only hope for the preservation Of
the wild birds of our nation lies In ac-
quiring their home breeding grounds on
the coasts of the United States and care
fully maintaining them against molesta-
tion," said william butcher. president of
the association at it's headquarters, III
Broadway, today. Every American should
be interested In the preservation and
extension of his countrys bird life and
no true patriot will care to see race
of his nations birds die out for lack OF
their ancestral homtng grounds"