The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-19
WOOD ducks GOING fast
EXTINCTION NEAR.
Pot Hunters and sportsmen
Wiping Out Beautiful
and Valuable Bird.

Bird lovers say that only heroic
measures can to-day save the wood
duck-one Of the most beautiful of
American birds, from extinction In this
country within a few years. This is
given as the consensus of 200 of the
leading ornithologists and sportsmen
in every section of the United States,
from whom reports have been re-
ccived at the headquarters of the Ma
tionaI Association of Audubon Socie-
ties in New York. On the basis of the
feturns from these experts, William
butcher, president Of the association,
has announced that vigorous cam
paign would be instituted in every
State legislature for prohibition of
the killing, sale or possession Of any
ten years
The march Of civilization is held
somewhat responsible by the authori-
ties for this decline of the wood duck,
which in years past were shot by the
wagon load and which to-day are often
sent to be identified as rare speci-
mems. Spring shooting, pot hunting
and general reckless destruction of the
unusually tame and handsome fowl is,
however, assigned as the main cause
of their decrease which has in many
states amounted to from fifty to nine
ty 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 brilliantly
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. Beyond their marked beauty
and gentleness, the ornithologists de-
clare, these birds are an aid to the
farmer by reason Of their insectivor-
GUS qualities and because they have
absolutely no harmful habits
From Pennsylvania an ornitholo-
gist has reported that he had not seen
a living specimen Of wood duck since
1901. Another in South Carolina has
declared that there We're not five to-
day where there were fifty ten years
ago. Only one had been seen in Wyo-
ming 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. have been reported. In Min
nesota alone, marked check In the
decline to recent legislation against
spring shooting and its rigid enforce
rnent.
New Hampshire and Massachusetts
have already taken the lead in this
new movement which the Audubon
workers are furthering by establishing
a close season of five years on all wood
duck within their boundaries. Unless
this term is heightened and like ac-
tions adopted by every other State
and province in North America. it is
declared by the associations officers,
the next generation will see these
beautiful birds, not sporting on the
inland waters, but only stuffed and
dusty on museum shelves
The emergency is almost as press
ing as that in the case Of the Ameri-
can bison," said DR.. butcher at Au-
dubon headquarters In New York re-
Gently. 1--WE cannot afford to lose
our Nooo uuchS, WIiNH LOTHlerlN were
as familiar as many much less beauti-
full and useful birds are to American
nature lovers to-day. We are in this
fight against the extinction of these
birds to stay, and we believe the peo-
pie Of this country will soon realize
that 1t will be worth to them all that
1t is going to cost us. feel sure that
every sportsman and nature-loy is
behind us and that each will exert his
utmost influence in this work for the
common good"