The Columbus journal., 1908-08-05
a R4iR Of ANCEU

At present the Work OF tne ud-
tional society consists In forming new
state Audubon societies. strengthen
ing the weaker ones. maintaining a
warden system, by means OF which
sea birds. such as terms. are speciaiy
protected during the breeding sea
son. and attending to all matters OF
LEGISLATION. Besides all this. the
national committee interests itself
greatly In various bits OF educational
work, including the dissemination OF
illustrated leaflets. 1t Is also
valued medium Of exchange between
the state societies.
Though the foreign methods In
the struggle for bird protection dif-
fer from this country's, the move
ment Is truly International. On the
continent II has taken the form OF
international conventions or con-
crosses. 1t was the German Ornitho-
logical assembly which first brought
up the matter of bird protection In
1S45. One Baldenus suggested the
idea. but. according to the records. his
proposal was first rejected; next
year, at the meeting Of the Saxon Ag-
ricultural society. "shelved." and ten
years later, at the second meeting of
German ornithologists. ignored"
1t was not until 1868. at the twenty
sixth assembly of German agricult-
uralists and foresters, that a. request
was made by vote of the assembly to
the Austro-Hungarian foreign minis
ter to take measures for bringing about
the formation of International treaties
and agreements. Switzerland and
Italy were the arst states to join In
the movement.
1t was not until 1884. however.
that the first International Ornitho-
logical congress actually met at
Vienna under the patronage Of Crown
Prince Rudolph.
On account of various delays. such
as the death Of Prince Rudolph of
Hungary, who had been the moving
spirit Of the first meeting, and the
Quarrels between various Omcials.
the second congress did not take
place till the year 1891. 1t was held
at Budapest. and little of importance
was accomplished, though there was
a general feeling that the matter In
hand demanded close and immediate
attention.
Finally, in 1900. the third inter-
national pathological congress was
held in Paris, and in 1902 the con-
vention was signed by the dele
gates present. Its most important res
olutiOns were as follows:
Birds useful to agriculture. particu-
larly the insect eaters. shall be uncOn-
ditionally protected by a prohibition for
bidding them to be killed in any way
whatsoever. as well as the destruction OF
their nests. eggs and broods.
1T shall be forbidden. at any season
and in any manner whatsoever. to steal
nests and eggs. to take or destroy nest
lings.
1.-THE import Of these nests. eggs and
nestlings. their transport. the colportage
Of the same. their putting up to sale.
their sale and purchase. shall be pro-
hibited.
"The construction and employment Of
traps. cages. nets. nOOSeS, hme-twigS or
any other kind of instruments used for
the purpose OF rendering easy the WnOie-
sale capture or destruction Of birds. shall
be forbidden.
1T shall be forbidden from March to
September Is Of each year to take or kill
useful birds.
1.-The sale or Offering for sale Of the
SAME is also. during the same period.
forbidden"
Among the nations represented at
the convention were Austria Hungary,
Germany. France. Belgium. Greece.
Spain. Portugal. Sweden and Norway
and Switzerland. Italy sent dele
gates, but they withdrew early In the
session. Two years ago. in 1906. Aus
tria- Hungary incorporated the conven-
tion into its corpus juris. There n
hope that the other countries whose
delegates signed the convention will
soon follow Austria's example Al
ready several of these nations have
laws protecting birds to q certain
degree.