The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-08-13

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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-
! destruction at the hands of its innu-
merable enemies, both natural and un-
natural, the two-legged animal man
coming under this latter classified
tion.
The United States as a whole COM
countries in the matter of bird pro-
lection. The history of the "Audu-
bon movement" is most interesting
and significant. 1t 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
memorial to congress to ask for
help in bird protection. From the
United States department of agricul-
ture was secured $4,000, and a superin.
tendent, DR.. G. 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-
ton of committee of the American
Ornithological union. 1t started under
most fiourishing auspices, receiving en-
couraglng letters from such men as
Henry Ward Beecher, John G. Whittier
and Bishop Potter. At the end of 1886
the society had 10000 members. The
next year 1t began to get out a 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 next 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
S 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.
shusetts' and at the present time |
there are but ten states in the union
IN which an Audubon society does not
exist. In most states the societies
are large and continually increasing.
lhey nave their own magazine. Bird
Lore, successor to the old Audubon
magazine, but much more ambitious
In all but three of the states which
nave the society the uniform Audubon
law Tor the protection of non.game
olrds has been adopted, and this law
Is IN force even in some states which
40 not possess a state Audubon
organization - West Virginia, for in.
stance.
Inc National Association of Audu.
ooh societies is not a distinct club
put simply a loosely-drawn fedora.
uon OF the various state societies
lts object is to secure uniform action
ana establish some sort of union
admitting of concerted action when
occasion arises. A national commit.
zee mas been formed, to which com.
hittee each of the state societies
sends delegate. This committae
meets every year.
AT present the work NJ tha nm
Lon'I society consists in forming new
state Audubon societies, strenetben.
ing the weaker ones, maintaining n
warden system, by means oP whioh
sea birds, such as terms. are sneciaIIv
protected during the breeding sea.
SON. and attending to all matters -,
Besides all this tho
national committee interests ,tseI,
sreatiy In various bits OF educat,onaI
n, ',,,n,. inciuding the dissemination of
rsei"'ed ,a," leaflets. 1t is also a
,aIuea medium of exchange between
the state societies. "eoh
though the foreign methoa. l.,