The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-15

Soc?etleS, and also secretary OF the
North Carolina Society, makes the
following statement:
"Thirty-seven states in the Union
0 have Audubon Societies OF vary
ing degree in strength and activity.
Their chief work everywhere Is to
educate public sentiment to a better
appreciation of the value of preserv-
ing wild birds and animals. The var
ious methods employed are in the
main working for better legislation, a
more effective game warden system.
publishing and distributing literature,
a~cqdainting people with the text OF
the study of birds and their value in
the public schools.
In addition to the work done by
the various state societies, the Ma
tional Association has a distinct field
Of activity. First, we carry on every
summer a series of exploring expedi-
tons in the quest of breeding colo
MES Of water birds, such as ducks and
geese in the north. and gulls, terms
and other sea birds in the south.
When valuable colonies of these birds
are found, wardens are employed to
! guard them during the breeding sea-
son. Over seventy Eardens are now
on the payroll of the National Asso-
citation doing work of this character
Virtually every breeding colony of sea
birds on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
from Maine to the mouth of the Mis-
sissi i.3i is now yatrOlled by our war
delIS.
"president Roosevelt is much inter-
ested in the work and at our request
has during the past vear set aside six
additional breeding places of birds as
Bird Refugees and we assume the
expense of guarding them. There are
in the United States at the present
time fifteen such reservations. Two
of these, namely, the Yellowstone Ma
itional Park, in Wyoming and the
Wichita Preserve in Oklahoma are
guarded by government agents. The
other thirteen are in our care.
The National Association does an
enormous Legislative work. The past
year in forty states sessions of the
| legislature were held. We had a rep
resentative at every legislature, CO.
operating with the state officials in
| securing better laws for the preserva-
ton of birds and game. Our workers
at Washington were without doubt
largely responsible for saving the
government work for game protection
which was nearly destroyed by a po-
! litical move last winter.
Our national association was only
organized four years ago. enc year af-
ter the North Carolina Audubon So
ciety was incorporated by the Iegls-
lature- That there is a great demand
for this work is clearly shown by the
support which the work has received
The association already has an en-
downlent of over 1895, 900. The in
come from this is augmented by funds
received from more than one thOus-
and, contributors. This is. of course.
separate and apart in every way from
the finances OF the various state So
c~ietie5. President William butcher.
whose office is 141, Broadway, New
York city. is the real organizer and
moving spirit of the national associa-
ton and to its efforts is largely due
the enormous work which the Audu-
bon society has accomplished IN the
United States.
In his annual report, read at the
meeting in New York on Tuesday,
Mr. butcher. referring to the income
of the society, said: In this connec-
ton 1T is proper to mention a misap-
prehension that has arisen in the,
minds Of soMe persons, notably
among some of our oldest and hereto
foremost liberal contributors. They
evidently believe that as the ,associa-
ton has an endowment, there is no
need for further funds with which to
carrysgon the work. There certainly
cannot be q more mistaken idea than
this. AS a matter Of fact, as the So
ciety grows older and more widely
known, the demands upon it become
daily more exacting and its op~portuni-
ties fog doing good increases far more
rapidly than it's
Our outlay during the past year
was some thousands If dollars more
than cur income, hut the demands
upon ue were of such vital Importance
that they could not be overlooked.
Had we not responded the cause Of
bird protection would have suffered a
-~% LA-I -: ,y>- w. 70
overcome. Right here is the time to
emphasize the need for Z far larger
field staff Many parts OF the country
that neeu educational Work cannot be
, touched, a5Wing to the inability OF this
association I OSet aside the necessary
funds to semploy additional expert
help. We have reached the extreme
] limit possible until our income is
! largely increased. Right here ~ an
opportunity srofome the snan from
opportunity for some of the weaEhy
philanthrOplStS or the country TO
tplace some of their riches where it
will be doing the greatest amount
fef good. Tc what object can q per
| son contribute where the results for
good viii! heegreater.
" We teach the people to protect
wild life. thus making men, women
and children kinder and better cita-
zens.
We teach the value OF birds 10
the agricultural and forestry interests
Of the country, and thus instruct citi-
zens III the economies.
1--WE teach Of the live bird or ami
NAL in plain. sim pie words. thus Civ
Ing the rural ~porulace, especially. an
interest in nature, which never fails
to brighten and broaden huIna lives
I'VE stand for the rights Of our
fellow citizens, the wild birds and
animals, and demand just and uni
form la We for their protection, and also
their rigid enforcement.
I've stand for the principle OF nom
political appointments in the office of
game commissioners and demand
that such offices shall be filled by
scientific experts, who alone are cap
able of securing the best and most
lasting results
we stand for civil service in the