The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
WOULD STOP BIRD KILLING
Florida Everglades Despoiled by
Butchery of Plume Hunters.
Audubon Societies Seek TO Put Ban
Upon Needless Slaughter of
Marsh Feafhered Life,

That whole regions OF the Florida
Everglades have within the last three
years been robbed Of every vestige Of
bird life 70 supply the worlds millinery
market with the plumage Of the heron
that formerly bred there in countless
I numbers. has been reported here. Sew
eral OrnithOlogists who have Just com
pleted a survey Of this section have sent
reports to the headquarters OF the Ma
tional Association Of Audubon Societies
declaring that where America was most
rich IN tropical birds 1t is totally barren
to-day. At this rate OF devastation. il
/ is asserted. the plume hunters VIII leave
this country entirely stripped Of all its
Z birds OF plumage within five years.
Detailed reports OF the discovery Of
wonderful rookeries Of the small blue
herons and the white birds with the bril-
liant red legs and beaks probably ibis"
/ in the regions where the Harvey River
enters the Everglades. were sent TO the
Audubon officials on March q. 1905. At
the time an exploring party described the
! tropical birds in these unknown parts
as countless and expressed apprehen-
| sion that their discovery might lead 10
some inroads by the worlds army Of pro-
| fessional bird butchers. Since the first
word Of this discovery peached the ears
| Of the millinery marauders all live feath-
/ cred creatures have been exterminated
| throughout the entire region.
| To bank the worldwide activities Of the
/ professional plume hunters. whose forces
]
| bird kingdom. England is already taking
| firm steps. From end 10 end the British
| empire has been ravaged as Florida has
/ by the market feather seekers. A bill
similar 10 the model law which the
Audubon workers have succeeded in lead
/ ing almost every State in this country
\ 10 adopt is to-day being pressed by Lord
Avebury in the House OF Lords for the
| prohibition Of the importation Of the
| plumage. skin, or bodies Of all wild birds
except ostriches elder ducks. and birds
used as articles Of diet. Acting upon the
/ startling reports from Florida the Au-
| dubon officials declared that laws against
| the sale Of the trophies OF this butcherv.
/ irrespective of where they were taken.
\ would be urged throughout this country.
/ Although the English bill is even moro
| sweeping than the Audubon model law
/ mere, II IS believed that with proper en-
/ forcement the latter may serve to stay
| the encroachment Of the international
| commercial bird slaughter. Eventually il
is the purpose OF the association TO perfect
an international organisation TO check
this securing Of the globe for the adorn-
ment Of the nations at the expense of
/ bird life
The aesthetic reasons for checking this
universal butchefv Of all birds that bear
the fatal charm of beauty are secondary. .
said William butcher. president of the
/ National Association Of Audubon Socie-
/ ties, OF New York. recently. The pri-
mary reasons are strictly economic. These
birds entirely aside from their wonderful
delights as objects Of beauty, form the
basis Of our nations health as well as