The state herald., 1908-08-07

The movement for bird protection
which began many years ago in Mas.
sachusetts where the first Audubon
society in this country was organized.
has grown with the years until the
movement has become worldwide. II
is no longer national Audubon soci-
ETY.. but an international Audubon so
ciety which is actively engaged in pro-
tecting the bird life of the world from
destruction at the hands of its innu.
merable enemies, both natural and un.
natural, the two-legged animal man
coming under this latter classifica-
tion.
The United States as a whole com
pares most favorably with other
countries in the matter of bird pro.
lection. The history of the "Audu.
bon movement" is most interesting
and significant It really began in
the early eighties, when the Ameri-
can Ornithologists' union earnestly
discussed the matter OF the undue
destruction OF birds, and the council
OF the union was directed to prepare
a memorial TO congress TO ask for
help In bird protection. From the
United States department Of agricul-
ture was secured $1,000. and superin.
tendent. DIR. c. Hart Merriam, was
appointed by the Ornithologists' union
TO help in properly spending the
money. From this beginning has
grown up the biological survey. which
works In close collaboration with both
the department OF agriculture and the
National Audubon society.
The National Audubon society itself
was organized In 1886 at the sugges'
tion OF n committee OF the American
ornithologlcal union. II started under
most fourishing auspices. receiving en-
couraging letters from such men ns
Henry Ward Beecher John G. Whittier
and Bishop Potter At the end OF 1856
the society had 10000 members. The
next year II began TO get out special
organ, the Audubon Magazine, and the
membership increased to $4,000,
Two years later came a slump. The
public seemed TO lose interest in the
movement. The bird laws were broken
repeatedly. The press paid little at
tention TO the Audubon workers.
Things were discouraging during
the neu few years. but In 1896 the
question OF the protection OF birds
was again brought before the public
by the organization OF the Massa'
chusetts State Audubon society. II
is the formation OF such societies all
over the country that has kept the
second Audubon movement from
falling like the first. The matter
was simply too large for one society
TO carry out alone.
Pennsylvania. and then other states
soon followed the example OF Massa'
chusetts, and at the present time
there are but ten states In the union
In which an Audubon society does not
exlat. In most states the societies
are large and continually Increasing
They have their own magazine. Bird
Lore n successor to the old Audubon
Magazine, but much more ambitious,
In nil but three Of the states which
have the society the uniform Audubon
law for the protection OF non'gamc
birds has been adopted. and this law
IA in force oven In some states which
do not possess n state Audubon
organization - West virginia, for In
stance,
The National Association OF Audu'
bon Societies iH not distinct club,
hut simply n loosely'drawn fedora
lion OF the various state societies.
,a object iH to secure uniform action
and establish some sort Of union
admitting OF concerted action when
neoa.lou arises. A national commit
,,o has been formed. 10 which com.
,,I,,o, each Of the state societies
sondH delegate, This committee
meets every year.
Al prcrent the work Of the ma
,iopai society consists In forming new
sta,o Audubon societies, strengthen
a Ing the weaker ones, maintaining q
warden system. by means OF which
.,a hirds. such M terms, are specially
nroteeted during the breeding sea
son. and attending 10 all matters Of
ievialaljon. besides all this, the
,aiionai committee interests Itself
greatly In various bits Of educational
work. including the dissemination OF
illustrated leaflets. II II also a
valued medium of exchange between
the cate societies
Though the foreign methods So