New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-17
GUARDING WATER Birds
Protection an Some Localities Has
Increased Their Number.

M. 49, +brao+a,ad determination of the valua-
HE birds of the sea coasts and lakes OF TINS county
has been checked to some extent by the opeIa'iON
of reservations during the last year has been an
Do,rced ut the headquarters of the National Asso-
citation of Audubon Societies in this CITY, AT SUITS
fifty points along both shores OF the continent anu
on its inland waters the breeding BIRDS nave TINS
season been shielded from the ravages OF egg steal
ers plume hunters and market butchers, ACCORDING
TO annual reports that have just been received
from the wardens employed by the Natlohai Asso-
citation of Audubon Societies. In over W per cent
OF these bird refugees, which the Audubon workers
maintain with the help of the government IN
creases of from to 60 per cent in the sea birds ana
water fowl most useful to the people of the nation
are reported
On the waters OF Maine Massachusetts, New
York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina South
Carolina Florida Louisiana, Mississippi Michigan,
Minnesota North Dakota Washington and oregon
a careful census has been made of the bird oroods
reared this year in the breeding places set aside py
the government or leased by state and national So
cieties While the wardens generally report that
the sea birds and water fowl rapidly multiply
ing within the limited territory in which they are
guarded from human devastation, storm tides
the wholesale checks of nature-are held RESPONSE
BILE in half a dozen notable instances for the de-
struction Of thousands of the young of species on
whose activities country must rely for the dis
pOsal of floating refuse and the consuming OF
harmful insects Throughout the regions where
the shore birds must still breed unguarded the
raids of plume hunters are JnreStenlnS tne rapid
extinction of species of these BIRDS according
to Ornithologists who have summarized the stua-
ton on the basis OF these records.
More than twenty-five thousand eggs of gulls
herons and terms reported taken In the TEN.
porary absence OF one warden by egging expedi-
ton on the Breton Island reservation, off Louis
ana in violation of federal statute. Only score
of the herons whose nuptial plumes furnish the
aigrettes the millinery market are reported as
surviving recent butchery each OF two Audubon
reservations in South Carolina and Florida From
wardens stationed both the upper Atlantic and
Pacific coasts and the inland waters of the country
good promise OF saving and increasing the birds in
their charge is held out.
plague and pestilence will surely follow the ex-
termination of the bird scavengers along our
coasts crop pests Will riot about the inland
waters II their insect eating water fowl allowed
to become extinct said William butcher. presi-
dent Of the National Association of Audubon So
cieties. "Our waTdens are doing noble work in
shielding the breeding birds from human harm;
but the natural checks OF bird life. such as storm
tides, fOgs, forest fires and cold storms during
migration. operate each year TO thin the ranks Of
the birds The only way 10 Offset the natural
losses of bird life is 20 extend this -Dird refuge
work and prevent the activities of the commercial
| despoilers."