The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-11-24
STAY DECREASE
IN BIRD LIFE
B. r. Howell, Of Holmes Ma
ture League, Writes Enter I
tainingly on the Subject.
WILD BIRDS SOON EXTINCT }

WILD DlNUO OVON GxAAANNA
BENJAMIN F. Howell, Of the Bowdish
Chapter of the LaRue Holmes Nature
league, Of the Morristown Young
Mems Christian association, has writ
ten the following paper on Methods
to Stay the Decrease in Bird Life"
Since it is fact that so many OF our
wild birds are decreasing in numbers,
and even approaching extinction, it is
our duty to endeayor to stay this de-
crease and do all in our power to save
the birds. How can we save them
The game birds are being killed in
such numbers by hunters in the fall
and spring, that soon there will be no
more of some species left. This can
be remedied in great measure by hav-
ing laws passed prohibiting spring
shooUing. The ducks and geese, and
the snipe and woodcock are shot in
the spring until the time when the
mother birds are sitting on their eggs; !;
a most destructive practice, and one
which is most certain to wipe out the
species. This must be stopped. When
laws are passed in all our states abso-
lutely prohibiting the spring shooting
of any species of game bird, and when
these laws are rigidly enforced, we
shall have ducks breeding in all of our
marshes, and the impending extinc-
tion of many varieties of our feathered
game will be averted. This is especial
" important in the northern states
through which the birds migrate and
where they stop to breed. A shorter
open season in the fall, low bag
limit and no market shooting, togeth-
er with the license law and a good
game-warden service are also much
needed improvements in those states
which have not already some or all of
them. State and Federal reservations
where the birds cannot be shot at any
time are excellent measures. They
serve as places Of refuge and are safe
breedjng-groundS.
All these laws and regulations must
be passed and enforced if we are to
save our feathered game. We can do
this by arousing public interest and
presenting bills before the state ,legis-
latures. Some of the states have
these laws already, and few enforce
them but many still have very poor
game laws and those which they have
are not enforced. 1t is for us to see
that these laws are enforced. Thus,
and thus only can we save our game
birds. The SpOrtSmen all over the
country are awakened to this fact and
endeavoring to have these laws passed,
but the hOtel-keeperS and men who
kill the game to sell are fighting it as
hard as they can. We must use all
our influences with our representa-
tives and senators to have these laws
passed.
One of the worst forces at work
against the birds, and the one which
is speedily and surely exterminating
some Of our most beautiful and inter-
esting varieties is the demand for the
skins, or feathers, of birds to adorn
ladies' hats. II only the women who
wear the feathers OF the slaughtered
birds knew how those feathers were
obtained, by killing the parent birds
and leaving the young to Starve to
ng they caused and how they are
bringing about the determination OF
some of the most beautiful of Gods
creatures, surely very few of them
would wear these badges of cruelty.
1t is for us to stop this. We are the
ones to do it. Even where there are
laws to protect the birds the laws
cannot be enforced. Men have COM
mitted murder in order to get the
feathers to supply The trade. 1t is
only by withdrawing the demand,
that the slaughter may be stopped.
This must be done by showing the wo-
men of to-day and the girls who will
be the women of tomorrow, what Suf-
fering and crime they are causing.
We can show them by lectures and
magazine articles how the feathers
are obtained, pointing out to them
that they are the cause, and have the
power TO stop it.
A Nature club in one of the north
ern states recently held sale of hats
where none adorned with any part of
a wild bird was offered for sale. The
sale was great success and that club
did much for the protection of all
birds. Many birds could be saved
from death by cold and starvation in
winter if they were provided with
food and shelter during the few hard
est weeks. Deep SaOwS are one of the
worst enemies, for then all their food is
covered and many perish miserably.
The cold, snowy winter of 1905 almost
exterminated the quail in the north
ern states, though food supplied by
SpOrtSmen and nature lovers during
the latter part of the winter saved a
few. Thick bushes, or bushy heap
of brush offer good protection, and
Jumps OF Suet tied to trees, or grain
and seeds placed on shelves kept clear
of snow will be the means Of saving
many lives.
In the summer the birds have an
easier time, but even then there are
many enemies with which it has to
contend. Among these is the stray
cat. Cats wandering through the
fields devOur great many birds and
some live entirely in this way Far
mers should not cut brush during the
nesting season, for in clearing their
fields and fences many bird-homeS are
thoughtlessly destroyed
Many people may be best reached by
presenting the economic value of birds.
If everyone in the country knew Of
what great economical value to the
agriculturiSt and the people at large
these birds are there would be no lack
OF protection. 1t is only through ig-
norance Of the habits of birds, and Of
their value to the community that